Silver Spring Placemaking Events

Planning Department Will Host Placemaking Events in Silver Spring During August and September 2017

Community invited to attend free yoga classes and discos in parks and public spaces, implementing recommendations from 2014 Silver Spring Placemaking Workshops

The Montgomery County Planning Department is kicking off a series of placemaking events in downtown Silver Spring this August and September. The “pop-up” events, including outdoor yoga and silent discos, are free and open to the public. This series is being held in partnership with County Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Tom Hucker, and the Silver Spring Regional Services Center to implement some of the ideas produced from the fall 2014 Silver Spring Placemaking Workshops. The goal of these events is to activate existing underutilized and hidden public spaces in downtown Silver Spring, and encourage community interaction.

Downward Dog Days of Summer
These are free outdoor yoga sessions offered by Khepera Wellness. The goal of these events is to activate public spaces and encourage health and wellness. Water will be provided. If you plan on attending one or more of these events, please fill out the release form before the event.

UPDATE: The yoga session on August 29 has been cancelled due to inclement weather. See below for make up dates.

Session 2 – September 12 – 12:00 p.m. – Silver Spring Library Outdoor Plaza. RSVP | Release Form
Session 3 – September 19 – 12:00 p.m. – Silver Spring Library Outdoor Plaza. RSVP | Release Form

About Silver Spring Placemaking

Implementing workshop concepts

As part of the January 15, 2015 presentation to the Planning Board, the Silver Spring Placemaking team recommended specific improvements to the three areas as a result of the workshops centered on the Transit Center civic space, Ripley District and Metro Plaza in downtown Silver Spring. These action items range from enhanced crosswalks, clearer signage and new bike lanes to outdoor movies, public art and food trucks. For each recommendation, the team suggested a “champion” was needed, including public agencies and corporate sponsors, to implement the changes.

“One of the reasons we held the workshops was to enhance the Silver Spring Master Plan so we have a head start when that master planning effort comes back around for updating,” says Robert Kronenberg, the Planning Department’s Chief of Area 1, who helped organize the events. “The Silver Spring Placemaking Workshops are the first of many we will be doing in the county. They set the stage of what is to come.”

What is placemaking?

Placemaking is a people-centered approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Put simply, it involves looking at, listening to, and asking questions of the people who live, work and play in a particular space, to discover needs and aspirations. This information is then used to create a common vision for that place.

Background on the Silver Spring Placemaking Initiative

In partnership with the office of County Councilmember Hans Riemer, Silver Spring Urban District, Silver Spring Regional Center and the local community, the Montgomery Parks and Planning Departments hosted a series of mini (two-hour) design workshops in fall 2014 that focused on placemaking strategies for Downtown Silver Spring.

The workshops explored creative ways to improve civic spaces at three locations – the Transit Center, Ripley District and Metro Plaza – as well as long-term strategies for implementing these upgrades. Public participation in all three workshops helped to generate dynamic and innovative ideas for providing temporary and permanent uses for community spaces that engage a broad spectrum of people.

The goal of the three Silver Spring Placemaking Workshops was to build on the 2000 Silver Spring Central Business District Sector Plan by engaging the community to develop strategies for improving prominent civic spaces within Downtown Silver Spring.

The Silver Spring Placemaking Workbook was produced that included recommendations based on these workshops and ideas to improve the Transit Center, Ripley District and Metro Plaza areas of Silver Spring.

“The whole process was fantastic and we had such a positive reaction from the community,” said Riemer. “Now we want to make sure the workshops contribute to meaningful change in Downtown Silver Spring.”

Councilmember Tom Hucker, whose Council district includes Silver Spring, said “I was very excited to participate in the Placemaking series. We identified some great ideas to enhance Silver Spring and I look forward to seeing them realized.”

Learn more about the Silver Spring Placemaking project.

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