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Wheaton Placemaking

Montgomery Planning is in the process of a placemaking effort for the Wheaton Central Business District to advance the recommendations of the 2012 Wheaton Central Business District and Vicinity Sector Plan and the 2022 Wheaton Downtown Study and 2023 Streetscape Standards. Through the Wheaton Placemaking project, Montgomery Planning will work with the community and local businesses to launch physical temporary placemaking installations in Wheaton. This initiative aims to show how existing planning recommendations can become physical reality, through making public space, safety, and connectivity improvements for those walking and rolling.

Placemaking installations will show how underutilized public space can be made more functional for the community and how the Wheaton Triangle can be made easier for pedestrians to navigate. At every step of the process, community outreach and participation will be critical to developing ideas, establishing recommendations, and making decisions. 

Upcoming events

An orange roller-skating character with a triangular body is centered on a blue background with the text "Wheels in Wheaton" in pink around it.

Join us at Wheels in Wheaton on May 31 and June 1!

As a part of the Wheaton Placemaking Initiative, Montgomery Planning will be partnering with the Wheaton Urban District to showcase what placemaking can do.

On Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, Parking Lot 13 (11219 Grandview Avenue), directly behind the M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters, will showcase how underutilized public space in an urban center can be transformed to be functional, exciting, and recreational.

The parking lot will be temporarily transformed into a roller-skating rink and gathering space, fit with tables, seating, shading, decor, and the rink itself. Over the course of the two-day activation, the space will be open for public use, skating, demonstrations, entertainment, and eating and drinking.

Schedule

More details will be coming soon. Check back here for updates.

Saturday, May 31: Wheels in Wheaton

Sunday, June 1: Wheels in Wheaton, during the Wheaton Urban District’s Annual Taste of Wheaton

Design concept

Get involved

Sign up to volunteer!

If you’re interested in partnering with us, please contact us!

Four colorful, abstract humanoid figures skateboarding and roller skating against a dark blue background.

What we’ve heard

This project came about as a direct result of the 2022 Wheaton Downtown Study. During engagement for the study, community members felt strongly about the small business character of the Triangle, the creation and support of public open space, a strong sense of place, and the improvement of safety and connectivity.

Building off the results of the study’s engagement and following a recommendation for placemaking activities in the Wheaton Downtown Study, the Wheaton Placemaking Initiative has focused engagement on placemaking specifically within the Wheaton Triangle.

Staff conducted a public survey, a walk-audit with community leaders, a public open house, participated at local events, and had one-on-one conversations with business owners, artists, and other community organizers. Here are the main takeaways:

  • Community members want areas to gather, more outdoor dining options, and more local shopping opportunities.
  • Most visit Wheaton to eat, shop, and attend local events, and there is a strong desire for more markets, more programming, and more entertainment for all ages.
  • Safety measures and more comfortable ways to get from place to place are important to enhance the community.
  • Wheaton’s unique sense of place, culture, and local business economy is important to build on, and further support and grow.

Frequently asked questions

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Past events

Open house

On December 11, 2024, the project team hosted an open house at M-NCPPC’s Wheaton Headquarters. Over 50 community members stopped by to learn more about the project, provide valuable input, and engage with planners. Attendees visited stations set up around the room, each focused on a different aspect of the project including connectivity, activation, and retail.

Project kickoff

On August 22, 2024, the project team hosted project partners and major stakeholders for coffee, donuts, and conversation about how this project can take shape. Attendees participated in an interactive walking tour with the project team to discuss existing conditions and opportunities and challenges within the Core District.

Project timeline

  • Summer 2024
    Data collection and outreach
  • Fall 2024
    Data analysis and outreach
  • Winter 2025
    Finalize design and wrap up outreach
  • May 2025
    Implementation
  • Summer – Fall 2025
    Maintenance and close out