Mission Statement

Urban Districts support and enhance the County's unincorporated downtowns (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Friendship Heights) as prosperous, livable urban centers by maintaining streetscapes and their investments; providing additional public amenities such as plantings, seating, shelters, and works of art; promoting the commercial and residential interests of these areas; and programming cultural and community activities.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY27 Operating Budget for the Urban Districts is $13,661,700, an increase of $463,276 or 3.51 percent from the FY26 Approved Budget of $13,198,424. Personnel Costs comprise 47.40 percent of the budget for 61 full-time position(s) and one part-time position(s), and a total of 62.70 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 52.60 percent of the FY27 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• A Greener County
• Effective, Sustainable Government
• Safe Neighborhoods
• A Growing Economy
• Thriving Youth and Families

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY26 estimates reflect funding based on the FY26 approved budget. The FY27 and FY28 figures are performance targets based on the FY27 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY28.

Initiatives

• The Silver Spring Urban District is nearing a complete transition to electric landscaping equipment, with almost all leaf blowers, trimmers, and mowers now electric - cutting greenhouse gas emissions, reducing noise, and improving air quality throughout downtown Silver Spring.

• The Silver Spring Urban District is strengthening small business growth by partnering with Montgomery County's Business Center to connect local entrepreneurs with key resources and promote their brands on Instagram, boosting the district's overall economic vitality.

• The Wheaton Urban District is upgrading street and pedestrian lighting to brighter, energy-efficient LED fixtures, enhancing visibility, safety, and sustainability throughout the district.
• The Silver Spring Urban District continues to update the Silver Spring Streetscape Standards by aligning street trees, lighting, and stormwater design with the 2022 Downtown Plan and the County's Climate Action Plan.
• The Bethesda Urban District successfully secured a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to support the expansion of Baby Cat Brewery into a second location in Downtown Bethesda. This initiative will create a new community gathering space, generate local employment opportunities, and contribute to increased tax revenue for the area.
• The Bethesda Urban District launched the Invent the Future Expo new signature event to engage families of all backgrounds through hands-on STEM experiences to strengthen quality of life and an inclusive community while providing long-term investment in the area.
• The Friendship Heights Urban District introduced the Sunday Commons, a weekly farmers market that brings together local artisans, chefs, and neighbors to foster connection, creativity, and a renewed sense of place. As it grows, this modern public initiative will continue to anchor Friendship Heights as a vibrant, inclusive destination for culture, commerce, and community.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• The Silver Spring Urban District is modernizing the Jazz Festival with livestreams, artist spotlights, and digital content to build year-round engagement. On-site enhancements include layout, sound, lighting, as well as vendor coordination and safety planning in partnership with MCPD, County Security, and Redshirts are elevating the overall festival experience.

• The Silver Spring Urban District continues partnering with social service providers, public safety agencies, and businesses to address the evolving needs of unhoused individuals in downtown Silver Spring. It also participates in interagency workgroups and leverages platforms like Microsoft Teams to improve communication, case coordination, and response times, fostering a more inclusive, responsive, and community-centered approach to well-being.

• The Bethesda Urban District continues to modernize its operations by transitioning maintenance equipment to electric alternatives as technology evolves. This ongoing effort supports the County's commitment to sustainability, reduces gas emissions, and achieves overall climate goals for a cleaner, quieter downtown environment.

• The Bethesda Urban District, in partnership with Montgomery County Department of Transportation, the Maryland State Highway Administration, and the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, successfully wrapped fifteen traffic signal boxes with original artwork by local artists, including two high school students. This public art initiative enhances the streetscape and will expand next year with additional artist-design signal boxes to enrich the pedestrian experience.
• The Friendship Heights Urban District established a pollinator garden program that enhances public spaces while promoting environmental education and volunteerism. Through hands-on engagement with native plants, participants of all ages serve as community stewards, contributing to both ecological health and neighborhood beautification.
• The Friendship Heights Urban District launched a Youth Advisory Council composed of students from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School to elevate youth voices in community development. Councilmembers contribute with the programming of youth-led and centered events and publications and explore local history-fostering civic engagement and intergenerational connection.

Program Descriptions

  Promotion of Community and Business Activities

This program enhances the quality of life in the Urban Districts and surrounding communities by fostering a strong, vibrant business climate within each Urban District and creates a positive image and a sense of identity for the districts. These goals are accomplished through sponsorship of community events that may include...

  Streetscape Maintenance

This program provides maintenance of, and improvement to, the streetscape amenities within each Urban District. Various service levels include litter collection, sidewalk maintenance, trash receptacle service at least three times a week, mowing and snow removal as needed, lighting maintenance, maintenance of planted/landscaped areas, and street sweeping....

  Enhanced Security and Ambassadorship

This program promotes clean, safe, and welcoming Urban Districts through uniformed aides. The program provides visual deterrents and/or trained observer documentation for theft, vandalism, and violations in the Silver Spring and Wheaton Urban Districts. Aides also act as ambassadors by providing information, directions, first aid and CPR, and roadside assistance...

  Administration

This program provides staff support for contract administration, the Urban District Advisory Committees, and for the administration of Urban District corporations. This program also provides for budget preparation and monitoring, payment authorization, records maintenance, and the Bethesda Circulator contract....