Western Grove Urban Park plan, via Chevy Chase Village
Construction on a two-acre park that Chevy Chase residents hope is “a tranquil oasis on the edge of a bustling urban center” is expected to begin this month and be completed by February, according to Chevy Chase Village officials.
The Western Grove Urban Park, located between Grove Street and Western Avenue on the edge of the more densely developed Friendship Heights area, has long been a goal of Chevy Chase community leaders and Montgomery Parks.
Montgomery Parks and Chevy Chase Village, the small municipality made up of single-family homes, partnered to purchase the undeveloped property and plan the $1.1 million park.
The village announced Friday that construction will begin soon. An organization called Friends of Western Grove Park has raised $80,000 and is looking to raise another $120,000 by the end of June so the park can include play areas constructed of natural materials instead of metal or molded plastic, a stone sundial, a water feature and a seating plaza.
Those who donate will be recognized with plaques within the park or at a special ceremony once the park is completed. The Friends of Western Grove Park is also offering individual naming rights running from $15,000 to $30,000 for some of the park’s more noticeable features.
The park will have free wireless Internet, new landscaping and two paths connecting the Western Avenue and Grove Street sides of the site.
The site will be fenced off for safety reasons during construction, according to Chevy Chase Village. All work will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and all construction-related traffic will access the site from Western Avenue.
