POTD: Baloon Man

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This shot is by Rockville Central reader Margan Zajdowicz: “The kids had a ball with the Balloon Man on Saturday, March 21 at the Grand Opening Celebration of the Thomas Farm Community Center. The Center is gorgeous+!”

Thank you!

Over and Under: Biking the Bridge

Spurred by a recent comment about a lack of traffic on the >Sister City Friendship Bridge, my family set out to bike across this enticing expanse. Whizzing past in the car, I’ve always wanted to try it.

Ten years ago residents identified I-270 as a major barrier between Town Center and points west. No sidewalks, shoulders or crosswalks existed. The Sister City Friendship Bridge opened in October 2007 to remedy this situation. Now it connects the Fallsgrove neighborhood to our new Town Center. The name honors our 50-year friendship with Pinneberg, Germany. In February 2008, the One Less Car organization named it one of the most bicycle and pedestrian-friendly projects in Maryland.

At 0.75 miles in length, the bridge turns out to be two bridges meandering through the loud roar of I-270. Although it was the middle of the day, we met a man biking and a woman jogging, so people are using the bridge. The only dangerous part was crossing the street-level entrance and exit ramps for I-270 on the eastern side. One car almost didn’t stop for the red light before deciding to turn right. Once on the bridges, you can safely enjoy the view — of all the traffic. Our only disappointment was that the Bridge wasn’t longer.

Our excursion lasted about one hour and included a trip through the tunnel under Maryland Avenue by Monument Park. When biking with kids, tunnels and bridges are certainly the safest way to go. Now that we’ve tried it, I think we will regularly bike to visit our friends in Fallsgrove. In just one trip the Bridge has gone from a special destination to an ordinary necessity.

Contributor Opinion by Steve Cavallo: Remember Thomas Farm

The following >contributor opinion is by Steve J. Cavallo, who blogs at Down By The River. He was kind enough to offer it for publication at Rockville Central. Thanks Steve!

I thought to write you in the hope of bringing to light an issue that a few (certainly not very many it would seem) of your readers may be outraged or at least dismayed over. I am sure you are familiar with the development known as Fallsgrove at old Rt 28 and Shady Grove Road. However, do you know what was there before Fallsgrove? It was a farm — the last of a dieing breed in Rockville and from what I could gather as a kid roaming around it, rather old. The area now known as Fallsgrove used to be the Thomas Farm. Unlike King Farm where the City has made an attempt to retain some of the historic value, Rockville seems to have forgotten the Thomas Farm. In the City’s haste to allow developers to build Fallsgrove, they allowed this important part of Rockville history to be lost. I grew up across 28 from the Thomas Farm. My grandparents still live in that house on Glenora Lane.

In 1999 the City began the process of building Fallsgrove against the wishes of the last owner’s will (she died in the mid ’90s). There is a 1999 Gazette article about this and the subsequent law suit–this is, by the way, one of only two articles mentioning the Thomas Farm I could find at the MCHS library. That same year I went to college. Upon my return my now wife and I were looking for apartments nearer to work and discovered Post Fallsgrove. This is built on what was the Thomas Farm. My love of history and Rockville sent me on a search for records of the farm and family. Much to my surprise I found next to nothing save the aforementioned article.

It seems that Rockville is willing to let a part of our history slip quietly away. In my opinion, the City has done a great disservice to its residents by allowing this part of Rockville’s past to be lost. I’m not saying that Fallsgrove should not have been built. However, to build it and not bother to research and try to preserve some of the Thomas Farm’s history is unthinkable. How can Rockville pride itself on its history and the preservation of that history if we pick and choose what to preserve. Peerless Rockville makes mention of King Farm on it’s website but not the Thomas Farm. Why? We cannot decide to document and preserve one historical landmark and ignore another. That is not historical preservation.

In closing, for my part, I will continue to research the Thomas Farm in the hopes of digging up enough of the history of it to present to the City Council during a public comment period. At least in that way the City will be made aware of the historical value they allowed to be lost. Also, what’s left will be preserved so that future residents of Rockville and Fallsgrove will know what sat at the corner of 28 and Shady Grove Road long before the houses, the apartments, and the shopping center were even thought of.

Steve J. Cavallo

Rockville Central runs occasional, edited opinion pieces by contributors as well as other guest columns. Their views are not necessarily those of Rockville Central. We encourage you to join the growing list of contributors! To submit your piece for consideration, contact us.

Contributor Opinion: Michael Lacey — "No Basketball Courts at Fallsgrove"

>As a Fallsgrove resident, I am confused and concerned about the “vote” and plans for basketball courts, lighted or otherwise, as part of the development of Thomas Farm Community Center. Why, after the considerable concern expressed at King Farm, is another attempt place court within a residential area underway?

Fallsgrove residents were surveyed months ago on this issue. I believe that basketball was not a part of the decision and the issue was settled then. From the January 25, 2007 minutes of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board:

“Based on results received so far, the highest priority amenities are benches, shade trees, a walking/jogging path and path lights. The lowest priorities have been given to shuffleboard courts, sand volleyball and public art. . . . [M]ajor shifts in priorities [are not foreseen] as the remaining results are tabulated.”

My main concern about the location of basketball courts comes from the experience of many of my friends and neighbors at King Farm. Lighted courts within their community have brought nothing but dissatisfaction and serious concern: lights shining in people’s windows as they are trying to sleep, people gathering at late hours, loud music, fast moving cars, used condoms, and drugs. The intent of walking communities like King Farm and Fallsgrove is to foster a neighborhood feel, and the effect the courts have created has been anything but neighborly. There have been proposals to move the King Farm courts to the newly-created Mattie Stepanek Park, but the City has failed to act.

I am also concerned about the effect of bright lights on our forested area, which is bouncing back nicely as our very own nature preserve. If the court attracts the same issues that have occurred in King Farm, how safe will residents feel to use the miles of beautiful walking trails?

The residents of Fallsgrove are hard at work building a caring community with something for all, such as the Doggy Yappy Hour, Halloween Parade and the kick-off events for the Millennium Trail. Rockville and Fallsgrove are truly a great places to live and we want to maintain this quality in our parks.

Michael Lacey
Fallsgrove Resident

Rockville Central runs occasional, edited opinion pieces by contributors. Their views are not necessarily those of Rockville Central. To submit your opinion for consideration, contact us.