Page Park work likely pushed to spring as county stormwater approval, accessibility requirements slow project

Page Park’s construction is unlikely to start this year, the village’s new project manager told the Friendship Heights Village Council, because county stormwater approval and related permits must be secured before any grading or permanent work begins.

Jim Wilson, project manager for JFW Inc., told the council that the project requires both a building permit and a stormwater management/sediment erosion control permit and that “the longest path that you have is going to be your storm water management approval and the permits.” He said the county would need to approve a concept stormwater-management design before permit drawings can be finished and that comments expected at the end of July likely will push concept approval to “mid, kind of early October,” with full permits “probably the end of the year.”

That sequence, Wilson said, makes late‑year site work uncertain and means the village should plan for construction activity to begin in the new year and for substantial completion “maybe March, April” when conditions allow. "So they're supposed to be getting comments back the end of this month, but it looks like it's probably not until, mid, kind of early October that we would actually expect to get the concept plan approved," he said.

Why this matters

The county permits determine when contractors can move dirt, install ramps and finish accessible routes and play areas. Wilson emphasized that accessibility is integral to every element of the work: “everything in this everything, every layer of of activity has to have its own accessible route.” The plans also show five new bioretention structures required by the stormwater design; those will be built before or during early site work.

What the council heard

Wilson described several items the village can pursue while awaiting permits. Railings could be ordered and held, and playground-selection work can proceed so equipment is ready when contractors can install it. He proposed raising the play area to the same elevation as the paved surface above it to avoid requiring a separate accessible ramp, which would increase usable play area. "We're suggesting that the play area be raised up so that it's the same level as the paved surface up above," Wilson said, explaining how that would maximize the surface available for play equipment.

He flagged two technical issues that need additional design work and permitting attention: pergola attachments and the proposed ramp/walkway through established tree roots. On the pergola, Wilson said the current drawings show a thin concrete slab into which the pergola is bolted and added, “I don't think the county's gonna accept that.” He said the likely remedy would be to core‑drill and install proper footings that reach below the frost zone: “My guess is we're gonna take it up, bore drill footings, and put it back.”

On the ramp from North Park, Wilson recommended a raised wooden boardwalk-style walkway to avoid cutting major tree roots and to preserve established trees, saying such an approach would be more tree‑friendly than a continuous concrete strip.

Council comments and next steps

Martha Soult, chair of the Friendship Heights Village Council, asked council members whether they had substantive follow-up items. Council members pressed Wilson to keep the council moving on items that can be advanced now, such as selecting playground equipment and ordering railings so they will be ready when construction begins. Francine Klein said she supported the raised play‑area approach, noting that when the play area was lower than the rest of the park it felt “a little off putting.”

Julian (village manager) told the council he is pursuing a simple permit-extension request with the county to prevent lapse of existing approvals. Wilson said he will continue coordination with Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services and the project consultants and return with further technical recommendations.

Ending

The council received a detailed project plan and timeline and directed staff and the project manager to continue agency coordination and to move forward on items the village can complete before full permits are issued. Major on‑site construction remains contingent on county stormwater approvals and the issuance of permits; Wilson and staff said they will return with updates as those approvals advance.