Planning Board Approves Appropriation for Farm Women’s Market Parks

On November 3, the newly installed Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously approved a total of $5 million to support the creation of the new urban parks to replace the surface parking lots behind the Farm Women’s Market and between Leland and Walsh streets. Of this amount, $2.5 million will come from the Parks Department and another $2.5 million is funding from the State being channeled through the Parks Department. Mayor Rush testified on behalf of the Town (forward to 2:01:55). This is a significant milestone for this project.  

The next step is seeking approval from the County Council, which must vote both on the appropriation just approved by the Planning Board, and a companion request for $9.225 million from the County Executive to help build the new underground garage which will largely replace the surface parking spaces. A public hearing for both appropriations is scheduled for November 15; committee review for November 28; and final Council action for November 29.

These funds, combined with approximately $8 million from the developers and $5.5 million from the Town ($4.5 million from our funds, and an additional $1 million from the State that will be channeled through the Town), complete the financial plan for the $27.7 million project. Of the money from the Town, $4.4 million will be used to complete funding of the parks, and the remaining $1.1 million will be used for construction of the garage and associated infrastructure. 

Following County Council action, if supportive, the parties will negotiate and ratify the necessary legal documents. The Parks Department will then host a public charette process to hear from area residents about possible amenities for the new parks. The developers hope to submit their site plan to the Planning Board by next summer or fall, and break ground a year later, in 2024. The redevelopment and expansion of the Farm Women’s Market and construction of the new park behind the Market should be completed in late 2026 or early 2027, and the park on the adjacent lot between Leland and Walsh should be finished later in 2027. 

While there is a long way to go, the vote yesterday was an important milestone and will be noted by the County Council when they deliberate on the appropriations later this month. It is our sincere hope that on November 29, a definitive financial plan for these parks will be in place, and that the four-way partnership comprised of the Parks Department, the County, the Town, and the developers can get to work on this transformative project.