Montgomery Parks is conducting an online survey to gain community input on the Jesup Blair Park renovation.
Located 900 Jesup Blair Drive near the District line, Jesup Blair Park is bounded by Georgia Avenue, CSX/transit railroad tracks, Blair Road, and Jesup Blair Drive. Jesup Blair Park is downtown Silver Spring’s largest park at 15 acres. Jesup Blair House and the entire park are part of the county’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation; a separate project is underway for finding a tenant and renovating the historic residence.
Playgrounds, soccer fields, lighted tennis and basketball courts, picnic areas, and the historic Jesup Blair House are all located in the park. In order to increase usage of the space, planners hope to create a “park for all” that appeals to a wide range of users of all ages, abilities, and interests.
The park’s renovation plan will also be guided by the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. A key objective of the plan, which was approved by the County Council and the Planning Board last year, is to maintain open spaces in downtown Silver Spring (video below).
“We hope as many people as possible take the survey and let us know what they would like to see in this park,” said Project Manager and Landscape Architect Matt Weir in a press release. “It is a vital open green space for downtown Silver Spring and adjacent communities. Spending time walking, playing, socializing, or simply enjoying the tree shade can be good for physical and mental wellbeing.”
In addition to the online survey, park staff will gather input at upcoming events and community meetings. Montgomery Parks will provide details on those meetings and the project timeline on its website for the Jesup Blair Park project.
The survey closes on Friday, November 17.
Photo: “Jesup Blair Park 01” by Farragutful is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.