Project UpdatesAllentown Splash, Tennis and Fitness Park The Allentown facility is slated to receive an expansion and renovation. Construction is scheduled to start this winter. A 10,000 square foot addition is planned for the existing building, which will include a new weight training room, multipurpose room, lounge/game room, restroom/locker room, lifeguard/first aid station, and new outdoor ticket booth. Improvements to the wet and dry classrooms are also planned for the facility. The renovation and expansion project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2013.Tennis enthusiasts will be excited to know that renovation work is also planned for the outdoor tennis courts. The existing six (6) courts were demolished this past August, and will be replaced with new US Open blue and green surfacing. The project also includes new lighting and fencing. Anacostia River Park Trail A new one mile segment of the Anacostia River Trail is now open for all bicyclists, joggers, and hikers. The new trail segment starts at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park near the boat storage yard, located at 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, Maryland, and goes south along the Anacostia River to a natural area featuring a recently created 20 acre wetland. The new trail segment features a bridge over Quincy Run and 700 feet of boardwalk through a forested wetland. The new trail and created wetlands are part of a larger restoration effort of the Anacostia River, which aims to connect people back to the river along its entire length. The trail and wetlands were funded by the State of Maryland. The Anacostia River Trail is part of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System comprised of 27 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians on parkland owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Trail enthusiasts will be excited by the design of the last segment along the Anacostia River that will link Prince George's County to Washington, DC. The last segment will extend from Benning Road in DC to the MD boundary where it will meet the soon to be completed trail segment from the Bladensburg Waterfront Park. Completion of the Anacostia River Trail in MD and DC will provide connection from Prince George’s County to the Kenilworth Aquatics Gardens and eventually to the National Mall. Concord Manor The Concord Manor house, a fine example of 18th century Federal style architecture listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is well on its way to being renovated and revitalized. Located within a lovely pastoral setting on 257 acres of the northern portion of the Walker Mill Regional Park in Capitol Heights, this brick country manor home is currently undergoing exterior repairs including brick restoration and stabilization of the main house substructure. Work has also begun on the renovation of the interior spaces. In addition to historic preservation of the house, renovation work will include upgrades to mechanical, electrical, and communication systems, and the addition of new entrances and restrooms, making the facility fully accessible to everyone. When completed, the house will include multiple elegant public areas for family events and celebrations, as well as community meetings such as book clubs, seniors’ activities, and Homeowners’ Association meetings. In response to the expressed desires of the community, we also envision spaces for public art and cultural events. Work to preserve and restore this well-loved treasure is well underway and will be complete by Winter 2011/2012. Installation of a new parking lot and pedestrian walkways that are necessary to support public access and use of the Concord Manor house will follow the house stabilization work. This additional work is expected to be complete by early 2013. Stabilization and renovation of the surviving barns will round out the park’s development after the house is opened for public use. Fairwood Community Park The Fairwood community, located near the intersection of MD 450 and MD 193, is set on a tract of land with a distinguished history. From the birthplace and childhood home of Oden Bowie (34th Governor of Maryland from 1869-1872) to the cradle of the Maryland thoroughbred horse racing industry, this area is steeped in tradition.
The completed 30-acre Fairwood Community Park will reflect the formality of the magnificent estate homes that once occupied this site, but with a punch of fun to attract residents of all ages and interests. Incorporated in the design are a double allee of trees along Gathering and Dining Plazas, a history walk with interpretative elements, turf fields for organized play, an amphitheater with a performance stage, and a play area that features new and innovative play elements that will entertain all age groups.
Construction at the Fairwood Community Park began in 2011, and completion of the park amenities is scheduled for 2012. Fort Washington Forest Community CenterThe Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is coordinating the final construction phase for the new Fort Washington Forest Community Center, a 22,300-square-foot facility located on Fillmore Road in Fort Washington, Maryland. The new community center is adjacent to the Fort Washington Forest Elementary School and will share a gymnasium with the school. The community center also will include a multi-purpose room, fitness and game rooms, computer lab, and space for arts and crafts classes. When the new community center opens, it will be one of 43 community centers operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation throughout Prince George’s County.
The Fort Washington Forest Community Center has had major delays due to ongoing construction-related disputes. The original contractor’s bonding company has taken over the project; M-NCPPC has engaged the assistance of specialized construction counsel to support resolution of the outstanding disputes. The contractor has re-mobilized and has made significant progress toward completion of the exterior of the building. Remaining interior work this winter and spring includes drywall, flooring, paint, and installation of finishes and equipment. Landscaping will be completed during the new planting season. M-NCPPC is projecting a Summer 2012 public opening.
Glenarden Community Center/Theresa Banks Aquatics CenterConstruction is complete on the community center portion of this newly renovated complex, with a grand opening held in Fall 2011. A wing of the former center was demolished and a new, collegiate-sized gymnasium has been added. The old gym was redesigned to include spaces typically found today in a staffed Community Center. The new and improved complex will include:
Green Branch Athletic ComplexSports enthusiasts in the Bowie area and countywide will be excited to know that great progress has been made in planning the new sports complex to be located just south of the Prince George's Stadium--home of the Bowie Baysox. Phase One of this complex has been designed to include three championship-sized softball fields, three combination soccer / football fields, a central restroom / concession building, accessible play areas designed to serve multiple age groups, picnic pavilions, and plenty of parking. Landscaped rain gardens and a pedestrian trail that will weave through the western side of the complex will add interest and learning opportunities. Updates will be forthcoming as project milestones are reached.
Melrose Park
North Forestville Community CenterM-NCPPC is completing the final construction phase for the new gymnasium addition at the North Forestville Neighborhood Park/School. This new facility is a 13,000-square-foot expansion of the existing North Forestville Elementary School located at 2311 Ritchie Road in Forestville, Maryland. Besides the gymnasium, which will be shared with the School, the addition will be comprised of a multi-purpose meeting space, a new entry lobby, a mezzanine, rest rooms, staff office space, and storage. The new facility has been delayed by ongoing construction-related disputes.
New Park Buildings at Lincoln Vista Park and Jesse J. Warr, Jr. Park
The two buildings are identical in terms of size, floor plan, and materials, and were designed by Symmetry First Architects from Savage, Maryland. The exterior of the new park buildings will feature an attractive split-face block façade with an arched roof and an expansive wall of windows. Inside, the main meeting space will be 30’ by 42’, with an enclosed storage room and open office area. A ceiling that soars from ten feet up to twenty-two feet in height will create a feeling of openness and provide lots of natural light. The floor plan also offers a kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave, accessible restrooms, and a janitor’s closet. Interior finishes will be high quality, including a terrazzo floor tile. Exterior doors will provide separate access to a utility room and a unisex restroom that will support outdoor activities and programs. Additional parking spaces will be added to accommodate use of the building. Construction of the new buildings is scheduled to begin this fall at both park locations. Both buildings will open for community use by late 2012. Southern Regional Tech/Rec Complex Construction is progressing on the new Southern Regional Tech/Rec Complex. The 37,000-square foot facility will contain two high school size gymnasiums with an elevated track, a fitness center, an aerobics area, a computer room, an environmental science learning room, a media room, a multipurpose room, meeting rooms, and an internet café. The building will combine athletic programs with technology programs in one facility. The building design is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is designed to meet a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating, which includes a vegetative green roof above the facility entrance. For more information about the facility call Southern Are Operations Division at 301-203-6000, TTY 301-203-6030. |
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The new skate park and basketball court at Melrose Park are anticipated to be open to the public by late March or early April 2012. The 5,400-square-foot concrete skate park includes ledges, stairs, banks, and rails. The skate park was built and designed by American Ramp Company. Visually, the skate park is a striking addition to the Gateway Arts District. It features a colorful glass tile mosaic by local artist Valerie Theberge, and a fabric wing shade structure. The mosaic pays homage to the springtime spawning run of native shad in the nearby Northwest Branch. The park will also feature half court basketball, a slightly larger parking lot, and a realignment of the Northwest Branch Trail through the park. 
Lincoln Vista Park and Jesse J. Warr, Jr. Park will each be receiving a new, contemporary, state-of-the-art, unstaffed park building soon. In Lincoln Vista Park, the new building will be nestled into the tree line across from the existing picnic area. At Jesse J. Warr, Jr. Park, the existing park building will be demolished. The new park building will be constructed near North Englewood Drive, far enough away from Beaverdam Creek to avoid the flooding issues that have often impacted the existing building on site.