The Eastern Silver Spring Communities Plan team has been working closely with residents, business owners, and community partners to understand how people experience their neighborhoods today and how they envision their future. Community members consistently shared how much they value the area’s cultural diversity, local parks and trails, and access to unique retail and restaurants. They also emphasized the need for safer, more welcoming public spaces and better ways to move around without a car.
In response, Montgomery Planning’s Placemaking team, in partnership with Montgomery Parks, created a series of gathering spots that offer opportunities for residents to share feedback, enjoy new amenities, and help shape long‑term ideas for future improvements.
The gathering spots are now installed – come explore!
Three new temporary gathering spaces are now open across eastern Silver Spring! Franklin Knolls, Hastings Conservation Area, and the Northwest Branch Trail at Oakview Drive. Each hub reflects the character of its surrounding neighborhood and offers a mix of seating, interactive and interpretive signs, plantings, and public art. Visitors can also share stories, contribute to local history, and provide feedback on planning recommendations. These installations are designed to spark conversation, encourage activity, and create new opportunities for neighbors to connect. The fourth gathering spot at Quebec Terrace will be installed in late May/early June. They will remain in place through October while the planning team gathers input about potential long-term ideas for future improvements.
