The Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail needs help clearing invasive vines and plants to restore native habitant along the trail.
No experience necessary. Clippers and gloves are provided.
When: Sunday April 27, 2025, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Where: Meet at the Parking Lot of the Bethesda Pool, 6300 Hillandale Rd, Chevy Chase MD, near the trail crossing at Little Falls Parkway
RSVP: https://www.cctrail.org
The Friendship Heights Village Council Ad Hoc Committee on Development will host a listening session at the Village Center on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., regarding the Friendship Heights Sector Plan. The public is invited to provide comments on the revision to the Friendship Heights Sector Plan and development-related issues concerning the Village.
The listening session will be open to the public and livestreamed at https://www.regionalwebtv.com/village-of-friendship-heights.
Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail are gathering volunteers to battle invasive vegetation this Saturday at Little Falls creek at the trail crossing. Meet at the parking lot of the Bethesda Pool 6300 Hillandale Rd at 10 am.
See their web announcement at https://www.lfwa.org/events/free-trees-from-strangling-vines-ccct-02-22
It is a happy holiday for the critters living in the two branches, or at least for those still left. The County Departments of Environmental Quality and Permitting Services have acted following complaints about illegal discharges.
1) The toilets in a downtown Bethesda office building which have been flushing directly into the Willett Branch of Little Falls Creek for years have been rerouted to the proper sewer line. After requiring that further testing be done, the offending party finally assumed responsibility for the corrective action necessary.
2) Our Little Falls Branch, which runs behind 4701 Willard, has been the color of cafe au lait following the recent rainstorm, another repeat performance following the last storms. The source of the silt is the Chevy Chase Golf Club. County Departments are working to correct this problem.
On another environmental health matter, testing for salt levels in the Branches will begin this weekend. Melt water containing high levels of salt placed on sidewalks and streets in the Village and surrounding neighborhoods runs directly into the Creek. Building managers in Friendship Heights have been asked to use less salt and to sweep up piles of remaining salt after a storm or icy weather. The Village of Friendship Heights has also asked its contractor to reduce levels of applied salt and to clean up excess afterwards, too.
And if you haven’t walked through Willard Avenue Neighborhood Park to notice the difference that cleaning out non-native, invasive species of plants can make, please take a look.
Bobby Pestronk
Chairman, Village of Friendship Heights Council
Built in 1898, the E.C. Reynolds House (5320 Willard Avenue) is perched above the Little Falls Branch within the Willard Avenue Neighborhood Park. The Park’s paved path once carried the tracks of the Washington and Glen Echo Railroad. Reynolds was an engineer and surveyor who subdivided an area called West Friendship, adjacent to Friendship Heights and the border of Chevy Chase and Bethesda. The house is an example of late 19th century homes built by federal civil servants now able to live in the suburbs with the advent of the streetcar.
The house was bought in 1995 by Montgomery Parks. It was leased for many years, until the summer of 2022 when: 1) it was considered by Montgomery Parks for demolition; and 2) furthermore, at one point, the property was considered for the creation of a dog park. Both ideas have apparently been paused.
Plans for the future of the house are unclear despite numerous inquiries by concerned neighbors.
Montgomery Preservation, Inc, President Eileen McGuckian notes that the Reynolds house is one of the structures deteriorating from lack of attention by public owners, including the Jesup Blair House, Silver Spring, owned by the parks department and the Red Brick Courthouse, Rockville, owned by the County.
For more information on the house and historic photograph, continue scrolling.
The Parks Department has finally demolished the 1918 Jacob Horne bungalow at the corner of Willard and River Road to enhance the entrance of the Willard Avenue Neighborhood Park.
Montgomery Parks is holding a virtual community meeting about the future of the Bethesda Market Park on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. The future park site is adjacent to the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in downtown Bethesda. The two existing parking lots near the market will be repurposed into a large urban green space, suitable for social gatherings and planned activities for people of all ages.
What: Bethesda Market Park Virtual Meeting
When: Tuesday, June 18, 2024
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Where: via Zoom: Mocoparks.org/BMPZoom
Participants may register here for the meeting.
Registration is recommended but not required.
During the online meeting, park designers will share a recommended concept plan based on community input from community meetings and an online survey during spring 2023.
“We received a lot of great suggestions from the community about amenities for this park —including a stage, open spaces, a dog park, game area, and water Montgomery Parks is holding a virtual community meeting about the future of the Bethesda Market Park on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. The future park site is adjacent to the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in downtown Bethesda. The two existing parking lots near the market will be repurposed into a large urban green space, suitable for social gatherings and planned activities for people of all ages.
The Bethesda Market Park development is a public/private partnership between Montgomery Parks, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, the Town of Chevy Chase, and Wisconsin Columbia Venture LLC., owners of the Bethesda Market project, co-developed by Bernstein Development Corporation and EYA Multifamily.
by Tino Calabia
Willard Avenue Neighborhood Park has two entrances along the Avenue itself. Walking downhill on Willard Avenue from the Friendship Heights Metro station, you first come to the Park’s main entrance just a few yards past the Willard Towers high-rise apartment building.
On May 8th, four neighbors who live nearby, met with Little Falls Watershed Alliance Director Sarah Morse, at the top of the path leading into the hilly woods that end at River Road. Very close to their meeting place is a creek that flows downhill into Little Falls which itself eventually flows into the Potomac River. When the meeting began, the trees and overgrowth around the group virtually hid a tall sign explaining the hours when the Park is open, a metal railing down a slope leading to the water’s edge of the creek, and the creek itself.
After the neighbors used gloved hands, long-handled clippers, and a saw to clear the non-native invasive overgrowth, such as honeysuckle, what had been hidden was finally seen. Below are three photos that summarize the story.
Little Falls Watershed Alliance Director SARAH MORSE (right), explains the negative effects of non-native invasive plants to Friendship Heights Village Council Chairman BOBBY PESTRONK (center) and West Friendship Association Secretary DAWN CALABIA (left).
Removing thickets of non-native bush honeysuckle vines, CHRISTINE KNAUER (left) and West Friendship Association President ANN OLIVERI (right) reveal a sign saying when the Willard Avenue Neighborhood Park is open. The sign was previously barely visible.
Once the cutting was done and the overgrowth of nonnative vines was dispatched with, a metal railing became visible. One could even spot a small pool at the creek’s bank. Prior to the clearing project, none of this was visible from the main path only yards away.
From the Office of Council President Andrew Friedson
Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson issued the following statement today after County Executive Marc Elrich transmitted his $7.1 billion Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Operating Budget to the Council:
“The Council appreciates the work of the County Executive and his team to develop the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Operating Budget. Now we begin our work to create the final budget over the next two months. Budgets aren’t simply spending plans; they are moral documents that demonstrate our collective priorities. As we work toward our shared fiscal and policy goals, transparency and accountability will be our governing doctrine.
“With unprecedented needs and finite resources, we must ensure every dollar is put to its best use to serve the greatest needs of Montgomery County residents. We look forward to receiving the views of our community members during the budget process, so we can carefully balance the need for important County services with pressures on our taxpayers.”
The Council’s public hearings on the operating budget are scheduled for April 8 and April 9 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Starting March 15, those interested in testifying at the public hearings can sign up online on the Council’s website or by calling 240-777-7803. Comments and suggestions are also welcome online, by mail or by calling the Council budget hotline at 240-777-7802.
Montgomery County’s Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Operating Budget can be viewed on the Office of Management and Budget’s website.
The Friendship Heights Urban Design Study analyzes how people experience the open spaces, pedestrian and transit networks, activity centers and public life in Friendship Heights today. The study includes a significant community engagement component and is focused on the urban design strengths and needs of this cross-jurisdictional transit-oriented community. The study generally focuses on the area within the 1998 Friendship Heights Sector Plan boundary but also considers the surrounding neighborhood context on all sides.
“In July 2023, staff presented the scope of work to the Planning Board. Engagement took place throughout the fall, with two open house events, numerous community meetings, pop-ups and an online questionnaire. Staff presented draft findings to the Planning Board in March 2024.”In July 2023, staff presented the scope of work to the Planning Board. Engagement took place throughout the fall, with two open house events, numerous community meetings, pop-ups and an online questionnaire. Staff presented draft findings to the Planning Board in March 2024.”
To read the final report, go to
Friends of Willard Avenue Park 