Park Recreation & Ancillary Buildings Study
Norwood Local Park Public Meeting
14 November 2007 - Norwood Local Park, 4700 Norwood Drive, Bethesda, MD 20815 . The following are minutes were recorded from the general meeting on the Norwood Local Park and the Bureau of Animal Industry Building.
Please send an email to MCP-RecBuilding@mncppc.org to provide additional comments, request a community meeting or to be added to an email distribution list.
Thank You,
Mark Wallis, Project Manager
Montgomery Parks, Park Planning & Stewardship Division
Minutes
I. Introductions
- Present from the M-NCPPC: John Hench(Chief - Park Planning and Stewardship Division) , Joey Lampl (Manager - Cultural Resources Stewardship Section), Carrye Palleschi (Property Manager), Joe Davis (Natural Resource Specialist), and Alden Watts (Cultural Resource Specialist)
II. Study Overview
- John Hench explained the structure of the M-NCPPC. He explained the rec. building study and its implications for Norwood Local Park. It was emphasized that the Norwood Park building and the two ancillary park buildings would not be torn down, and that they would remain open for public use. Priorities for the buildings include repairs, security, and general improvements. John Hench gave out his contact information for any future concerns.
III. Questions and Concerns
- Citizens asked about the cost to rent the building and voiced concerns that the rent would be raised. John Hench responded to those concerns, and explained how revenue is shared between the various Parks departments. The director of the preschool in the ancillary building explained how worried they had been when they read in the paper about their rent being raised “to market value”. Carrye Palleschi explained that the new rent structures were still being determined and that she would work closely with the preschool to ensure that they could afford to remain at the building.
- The representative from the YMCA Horizons youth outreach program voiced his hope that his program would be able to use the Norwood Park building again. John Hench and Carrye Palleschi promised to set up an individual meeting with him.
- Citizen members of the Recreation Department Art Class suggested that the upstairs floor could be used as extra art studio space. Ms. Doris Haskel, who has taught the art classes in the Norwood Park building since 1961, spoke to the value of the classes for the neighborhood.
- Citizens expressed concern about the rising cost of adult education. It was explained that class tuition was determined by the Recreation Department, which is separate from the Parks Department.
- Citizens suggested that air conditioning would be a good investment for the building. John Hench replied that it was his hope that would be a part of the general improvements.
- Citizens expressed concern that there was not enough parking for the buildings. John Hench replied that he hoped this would also be covered in the general improvements.
- Citizens requested that perhaps a utility sink could be installed as a part of general improvements. As of now they have to carry their dirty brushes home with them.
IV. Power Point Presentation and Lecture
- Joey Lampl explained the history of the Norwood Park building as the former Bureau of Animal Industry headquarters for the USDA, and how it came to be an M-NCPPC building.
- Contact information for Joey Lampl and Alden Watts was given in the event that any of the citizens have more historical information about the park that they would like to share.
