Project Description
Two playgrounds are being renovated at Olney Family Neighborhood Park. The playground located near Treadway Road (playground #3) was recently constructed, while the main playground on Willow Grove Road (playground #1) is in final design with construction scheduled to begin in 2024.
In addition to the playground renovation at Willow Grove Road, other minor improvements in the area will include:
- Resurfacing of the existing basketball court
- Improvements to the existing drive and parking lot at Willow Grove Road
- Stormwater management upgrades
- ADA accessibility improvements
Background
Olney Family Neighborhood Park is a long and narrow park that runs through several neighborhoods and has multiple playground areas. The park’s playgrounds were last renovated in 1988, since then, one of the smaller areas with just swings was removed due to the location and no easy route for maintenance. Another playground that had outlived its play value and was not being used was removed in 2018. Since both current playgrounds were installed prior to the final rules for the Americans with Disabilities Act going into effect, they are currently not accessible. The renovations would not only provide the necessary accessibility for the playgrounds to comply with the law, but they would also provide more amenities for people of all physical abilities.
Mike Riley, the Director of Parks, and staff in the Park Development Division met with State Senator Craig Zucker and representatives from the Olney Mill Homeowners Association in December 2019. Three concepts were presented along with the possible scheduling of each concept. The Board and Senator Zucker agreed on two of the options for the locations on Treadway Road and Willow Grove Road.
Status/Project Update
The state bond bill for the playground on Treadway Road (playground #3) was approved in March 2020, with its construction completed in fall 2022.
Another state bond bill was approved in 2022 for the playground at Willow Grove Road (playground #1). Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024.
Due to new Forest Conservation regulations, the playground at Willow Grove Road will be relocated to be further away from the existing stream. Originally, the playground was going to be located on top of and slightly west of the existing playground footprint, with the swings area being removed. With the revised concept, the playground will be located similarly but extended further west and reshaped to be more linear to reduce impacts to the stream buffer. The play equipment will remain the same as in the original concept drawings. Please see the revised concept design drawings.
Playground #1: Willow Grove Road Calendar and Meeting Notes
| Project Dates | Discussion/Meeting Notes |
|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | Refine prior design concepts based on existing conditions assessment. |
| Winter 2023 | Post recommended concept for community notification. |
| Summer 2023–Summer 2024 | Finalize design and obtain permits. Post revised concept for community notification. |
| Fall 2024 | Construction to begin. |
Playground #3: Treadway Road Calendar and Meeting Notes
*Dates and times subject to change. Please contact the project manager for updates.
| Project Dates | Discussion/Meeting Notes |
|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | Refine prior design concepts based on existing conditions assessment. |
| Fall 2021 | Post recommended concept for community notification. |
| Summer 2022 | Playground design and community feedback. |
| Fall 2022 | Construction completed. |