Public Space Management Plan
About the Public Space Management Plan
The purpose of this project is to develop a Public Space Management Plan to provide a vision, goals, and guidance on how public space will be used and maintained in Takoma Park.
October Public Space Workshop Series
You’re invited! Throughout the month of October, City staff are hosting a series of outdoor, community workshops. The workshops center around an interactive game about the values residents hold about parks, sidewalks, streeteries, bike lanes, and other public spaces!
Workshop Dates:
- Tuesday, October 5th, 6 PM – 7 PM
@ Front of Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Ave) - Saturday, October 23rd, 10 AM – 11 AM
@ Essex House (7777 Maple Ave) - *NEW* Monday, November 1st, 7:30-8:30 PM
@ Zoom Digital Workshop; access event registration HERE
First time using Zoom? Click here for instructions
*Rain dates to be shared as needed*
Events will feature Spanish and Amharic language live interpretation and materials, snacks, and children’s activities.
Public Space Management Plan Survey, Fall/Winter 2020
In September, 2020, the City of Takoma Park released a survey that invited all residents of Takoma Park to share their opinions about public space management priorities and opinions about the current state of public space in the city. To learn more about how residents responded, check out the Public Space Management Plan Survey Results (Summary).
Streetscape Manual
Takoma Park’s streetscape is a vital and significant part of our city. Our streetscape has amenities that guide our bicycles, pedestrians, and automobiles safely over our streets and walkways. It also reflects continuity with our history and with the values that bind us together as a residential community.
Assessment of Park Quality, Proximity, and Race, Summer 2020
The planning staff is developing tools to guide decisions about access and improvements in public space. These tools include a park amenity data collection process, a park grading scale, and an analytic distance matrix process with racial demographics to look at accessibility.
The Assessment of Park Quality, Proximity, and Race will help to identify gaps where the city can improve on public space quality and accessibility with respect to racial demographics. When combined with Census block group racial demographic data, the Mapbox Matrix API portion of this project provides data on park proximity within the city on different racial groups and what kinds of parks and amenities are most accessible to these same demographics (active parks or passive parks). These preliminary findings may help the city prioritize the development of more public space amenities for underserved people and areas in the City.
Planning staff has created two interactive webmaps which can be used to visualized data from this three part analysis. The webmaps can be viewed using the links below.
– Park Inventory and Quality Assessment
– Proximity Analysis
In July, 2020, City Council received a presentation on the assessment.
Project Lead & Contact Info
Alex Freedman
Planner
Phone: 301-891-7213
Email: planning@takomaparkmd.gov
Quicklinks
- Planning and Community Development
- Takoma Park Demographics Interactive Map
- Takoma Park Social Vulnerability Map
- Bikeways Program
- Bus Stop Improvements
- Maple Avenue Complete Streets
- Minor Master Plan Amendment
- New Ave Bikeway
- Parking Management Plan
- Public Space Management Plan
- Safe Routes to School
- We Belong Here: The Takoma Park Equity Walk
Links & Notes
January 2021 — Public Space Survey Results (Summary)
July 29, 2020 — City Staff presented a Public Space assessment to Council on park quality, proximity, and race. Agenda; Video of Council Presentation; Presentation Slides
January 22, 2020 — Council Work Session to Review Scope of Work, Draft Goals, and Timeline for Public Space Management Plan
November 14, 2018 — Council Work Session on the Review of Scope of Work for Public Lands Management Plan
July 20, 2016 — Resolution Adopting the Takoma Park Streetscape Manual
March 3, 2015 — Council Discussion of Public Land and Open Space Management Planning
Project Timeline
- Spring 2022
Council review and vote on recommendations - January-February 2022
Focus groups - December 2021-January 2022
Feedback survey - November 2021
Council presentation - October 2021 – in progress
Public engagement on public space values
- March 2021
Streetscape Manual Update with Webmap
- March 2021
Public Space Management Plan Survey Results - Fall 2020
Community On-line Survey
- July 2020
Park Quality and Proximity Study
- January 2020
Council Reviews Scope of Work, Draft Goals, and Timeline for Public Space Management Plan - Fall 2019
Park Inventory
- November 2018
Council Reviews Scope of Work for Public Space Management Plan
Research Documents and Links
| Date | Document |
|---|---|
| 1994-12-12 | 1994 Open Space Plan |
| 2016-04-01 | City Parks Amenities Inventory |
| 2020-07-29 | Park Quality and Proximity in Takoma Park, MD |
| 2020-07-29 | Park Inventory in the City of Takoma Park, MD |
| 2021-04-28 | Streetscape Manual 2021 |
| 2021-01-15 | Streetscape Manual Webmap |
| 2021-01-21 | CDC's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) |
| 2020-07-29 | Walk Time to Active Parks in the City of Takoma Park, MD |
| 2020-12-15 | Assessment of Park Quality, Proximity and Race in Takoma Park |
| 2021-03-02 | Public Space Management Plan Survey Results (Summary) |
| 2021-09-14 | Dorothy Woods - City Attorney Review of Declaration of Covenants |
