Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park
Designing a Community Space in a Small Footprint
How Norton Land Design turned a vacant lot in an under-served community into a thriving urban pocket park
Wedged between Kensington and Garrett Park, is a small, 7,000 square foot pocket park called Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park.
The idea for this project was to completely re-envision this community gathering space on this sliver of land between two residential homes.
A specially designed screening wall separates the park from the homes next door. This offers privacy for the homeowners while allowing park-goers the opportunity to enjoy the space without worrying about disturbing someone else’s property.
The rear of the park features a stream with a 7-foot slope to the street level. This natural challenge meant Norton Land Design had to get creative. To improve the space’s accessibility, a series of small terraces were created.
One terrace was designed for passive use, with a stunning cobble labyrinth and flexible seating. Adjacent to this space are multiple children’s play areas with age-appropriate play structures.
A natural touch was brought in with the addition of a small boulder retaining wall between the two areas, where children can play and explore in a more natural environment.
A unique boardwalk system was installed to connect the woods at the rear of the property to other points in the neighborhood. This boardwalk is fully ADA-compliant and includes multiple landings for stopping and taking in nature views.
In addition to creating a space for the community to enjoy, the team also worked with the Montgomery County Park and Planning Department to develop a plan for the extensive network of underground utilities, as well as the proposed walls taking up the substantial grade change. A stream restoration of the existing outfall to mitigate stormwater runoff through a series of riffles and pools was designed.
The stream restoration project was permitted and completed prior to starting construction of the park.
Norton Land Design worked on this project from the initial Concept Design through Construction Administration. The team was responsible for ensuring the urban park design had a strong community focus, was fully ADA compliant, facilitated access for all, plenty of play space for children and community gatherings.
In addition to designing the play and gathering spaces, the team was also responsible for all permitting, site design and grading, and planting design, including specimen tree preservation, critical root zone investigation, and the organization of an Arborist consultation.
Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park is an excellent example of what beauty can come from a small sliver of land in an underserved community.
