Appendix 4

North American Green Space Comparison

Green Space Guidelines for the

Silver Spring Central Business District

montgomery county planning board , maryland national capital park and planning commission
Appendix 4 - North American Green Space Comparison
Green Space/City Lawn Area vs. Hardscape Activities/Uses Activation/Context Transit Access Density
Square Feet/Acres
1 Bryant Park, New York, NY lawn = 45,500 s.f /1.04 acres planting Large green lawn surrounded by shade trees, Surrounded by dense city life on all four sides, including retail, Served by local subway stations 104 persons per acre
bed = 86,020 s.f. /1.97 acres hardscape bocce ball courts, a large fountain, perennial office and residential uses that generate pedestrian traffic. The adjacent to park. (Manhattan)
= 111,980 s.f./ 2.57 acres gardens maintained by a garden club, food lawn area is bounded by london plane trees that create an
kiosks, library with seating terrace at one end. arcaded edge to the lawn that bounds the space.
243,000 s.f./5.6 acres 54% green and 46% hardscape/amenity
Includes movable seating.

2 Farragut Square, Wash. D.C. lawn = 47,775 s.f /1.10 acres hardscape Large, green, tree-shaded open space with a Surrounded by mostly office uses, with retail such as banks, Served by two metro subway 29.3 persons per
= 12, 345 s.f./.28 acres statue marking middle of space. Popular as a restaurants, and hotels on the ground floors. It serves as stops acre
meeting and lunch place. meeting place for tour groups visiting White House and
60,120 s.f./1.38 acres 79% Lawn and 21% hardscape/amenity Smithsonian, and is programmed with live music.

3 Post Office Square, Boston, MA lawn = 19580+/- s.f /.45 acres Built over a parking garage, park features a 143' The focal point and reference point for the city's financial A major bus stop and a subway
planting bed = 29,362 s.f. /.67 acres long vine-covered pergola, two gazebos housing district, provides a green oasis in the hard enviroment of station 2 blocks away.
hardscape = 25,110 s.f./ .58 acres The an all-season café and the garage escalators. downtown. The parking lot serves 2,000 people a day. School
Central Lawn is approx. .25 acres There is an interactive fountain, seating on age children as well as office workers visit the park. Its context
benches or seatwalls, shady areas, areas for is largely single-use office space. "Post Office Square Park is
74,052 s.f./1.7 acres 66% Green and 34% hardscape/amenity/serv. people watching, and lawn area raised above intended to be a passive park. Yet it has a 24-seat café that
surrounding walks by a granite curb. leases its space from the park and expands outdoors in good
weather ... Twice a week Friends provide live music by local
musicians, more as 'background music' than entertainment; at
Christmas time, a brass quintet also performs in the park." PPS

4 Union Square, San Francisco, lawn l = 19580+/- s.f /.45 acres This mostly hardscaped plaza features an In the heart of San Francisco's shopping, hotel, and theatre A subway station located at
CA planting bed = 29,362 s.f. /.67 acres outdoor café, a symphony-sized stage for district, the square is surrounded by upscale restaurants and one corner of the park (at
hardscape = 25,110 s.f./ .58 acres The concerts and theater, as well as terraced lawn fashionable boutiques and shops. Geary and Stockton)
Central Lawn Areais approx. .25 acres seating facing the street for people watching.

96,750 s.f./2.22 acres

5 Market Square, Alexandria, VA Large, hardscape plaza with landscape planters The square is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, offices and Served by several local bus
filled with mature trees with a parking garage i residences; a truly mixed use area. routes and a regional bike trail
beneath. This square has served as a farmers
50,965 s.f./1.17 acres market since the 18th century. It has a large
fountain in the center and is fronted on the
north by the city hall and on the south by King
Street.
6 Rittenhouse Square, This green oasis in the middle of Philadelphia Surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential uses. Rail, bus and trolley service 27 persons per acre
Philadelphia, PA provides a gathering place for local residents. Architecturallly notable buildings line the park and there a within 2 blocks of the Square
Park contains sculpture, fountains, benches, nearby upscale shops and restaurants.
gazebos, and hosts a farmers' market.

225,625 s.f./5.18 acres

Silver Spring Green Space Guidelines

Appendix 4 1
7 Jackson Square, New Orleans, Formal, tree-shaded square in the French Square surrounded by sidewalk cafes, restaurants and coffee
LA quarter between the St. Louis Cathedral and shops a that provide a rich street life around the square. Its
Mississippi River. Square has ample lawns and location in the heart of the French quarter also provides
82,500 s.f./1.90 acres brick walks. character and ambience.

8 Mount Vernon Square, Composed of 4 smaller squares between .33 and A quiet, tree shaded park surrounded by swank townhouses, 8,058 people per
Baltimore, MD .64 acres each, in the form of a Greek cross. The churches and several cultural institutions. square mile (city
park is graced by several sculptures and a large wide)
82,770 s.f./1.90 acres
fountain.

9 Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, NM A formal, tree-lined grassy square with paths, Located in the heart of Santa Fe, NM, Surrounded on four
benches, and a central monument. sides by historic structures, it is activated by restaurants,
31,775 s.f./0.73 acres markets and public ceremonies and festivals.

10 Washington Square, New York, A large formal square, with mature shade trees, Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, serves as a Served by subway stations
NY extensive paving, a large formal fountain, and a neighborhood gathering place and informal spot for musical adjacent to park
commemorative arch and statues. Includes performances. It is close to NY University, residential
342,000 s.f./7.85 acres benches, chess tables, a playground, and a dog neighborhoods and the stores and clubs of Greenwich Village.
run.

11 Squares of Savannah, Twenty-two 18th and 19th century squares that Each square is easily accessible on foot and via automobile. Served by local bus routes
Savannah, GA vary from .46 to 1.3 acres and form a series of Most of the squares are surrounded by mixed use such as
shaded and garden squares within the city's grid residential, office, institutional, commercial and retail. Many
street pattern. All the squares have seating, churches and squares also front onto the squares, in mostly
gazebos, mature live oaks, and ample green beautiful architectural structures.
20,000 .s.f to 60,000 s.f./.46 to 1.3 acres space with flowering shrubs and lawns. Some
have monuments, fountains, and public art.

12 Campus Martius, Detroit, MI The space is characterized by lawns, fountains, A main intersection of downtown Detroit has been Served by local bus routes
an ice rink, shaded dining areas, a bandstand, transformed into a green public square. Surrounded by retail
61,900 s.f./ 1.4 acres and a small restaurant. Programmed with and office use such as the Hard Rock Café, and corporate
concerts and outdoor movies. headquarters. There are also residential units nearby.

13 St. Louis Square, Montreal, A Victorian-style fountain within a shallow pool is A European-style square in the city's Latin Quarter. The
Canada centrally located in the park. Features include a context is small townhouses and a nearby university. On sunny
141,750 s.f./ 3.25 acres gazebo that sells snacks, benches, mature shade days the park is filled with neighborhood people, making this
trees, and extensive lawns--approximately 85% space a true town square. Rue St. Denis on its northern border
greenscape. has several restaurants , as well as 3 hotels within a 4-5
minute walk.

References: Urban Parks and Open Space, ULI; PPS Project for Public Space, [Link]

Avg. = 2.45 Acres

Silver Spring Green Space Guidelines

Appendix 4 2