Greenbelt in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Greenbelt Museum
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 15, 2019
When first built, Greenbelt contained 887 units. There are two main construction styles: cinder block with flat roofs, as you see here, and frame construction with brick veneer and peaked slate roofs, visible behind you. Federal government designers originally painted the houses white or off-white with bright pastel colored trim. The windows were multi-paned steel casements. In 1941 the government built nearly 1000 more units for military personnel and civilians involved in defense efforts. These homes were of frame construction with clapboard siding and examples can be seen on Southway as you enter the historic town center.
Greenbelt's planned elements included many conveniences for families with children. The original town consists of five "super blocks" designed to provide residents with a park-like setting with cars limited to the peripheral streets. Notice that the system of inner walkways allows residents to travel by foot throughout the original town. The pedestrian underpasses beneath Crescent Road allowed children to travel to school without having to cross a busy street. The homes each have a public "service side" that faces the street for trash pick up and access to parking, and a more private "garden side" with a path that connects to the inner walkways and playgrounds.
Erected by Greenbelt Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Places • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 39° 0.021′ N, 76° 52.825′ W. Marker is in Greenbelt, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker is on Crescent Road east of Westway, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the grounds of the park behind the Greenbelt Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Crescent Road, Greenbelt MD 20770, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Community Center (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Eleanor Roosevelt (about 700 feet away); City of Greenbelt (approx. 0.2 miles away); Swimming Pool (approx. 0.2 miles away); Roosevelt Center (approx. ¼ mile away); Greenbelt Historic District (approx. ¼ mile away); Greenbelt (approx. ¼ mile away); Gas Station (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenbelt.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 15, 2019
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 15, 2019
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 15, 2019
Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on February 17, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 15, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.