StaticMap.MD

/**
* Takes a google maps api key and
* a json props object to generate
* a valid URL to a static map image.
* 
* @returns a valid URL to static map image
*/
function getStaticMap(key, props) {
    const markers = (props.markers || []).map(marker => 
		[
      		`&markers=color:${marker.color || 'red'}`,
       		`label:${(marker.label || '').replace('|', '\\|')}`,
        	`${marker.lat},${marker.lng}`
    	].join('|')
	);
    return `https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=${props.lat},${props.lng}&zoom=13&size=${props.width}x${props.height}&maptype=${props.type || 'roadmap'}${markers.join('')}&key=${key}`;
}

Example:

This code:

const data = {
    lat: 40.76,
    lng: -73,
    height: 500,
    width: 500,
    markers: [{
        lat: 40.78,
        lng: -73,
		label: 'X',
		color: 'yellow'
    }]
}
const mapURL = getStaticMap(yourMapsKey, data);

will produce this image:

Notes:

• The label is optional
• The color is optional (defaults to red)
• You can have more than one marker, just add it to the passed JSON data