Chevy Chase Circle: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Rock Creek Park - DC Street Plan Reservations, National Park Service

Joseph, Maureen; Shiflet, Kate

Chevy Chase Circle is a 1.05-acre park managed by the Rock Creek Park located at the MD-DC boundary line in NW Washington, DC. The park is bounded by the rotary around Chevy Chase Circle, from which radiate Connecticut Ave., Western Ave., Patterson St., Grafton St., and Magnolia Pkwy. Originally created as the gateway to Chevy Chase, MD in 1890, Chevy Chase Circle has also served as a memorial, gathering place, and community focal point. Its central feature is the Francis G. Newlands Memorial Fountain which was constructed in 1933. The park is important for its associations with Newlands as well as the City Beautiful Movement and Picturesque suburb ideas, which help explain the development of Chevy Chase Village. Chevy Chase Circle’s current appearance reflects its 1933 design, 1956 alterations and 1990s planting additions. The park is bilaterally symmetrical along its north-south axis, and circular geometry is a major organizing design feature. Circulation within the circle consists of two circular flagstone paved areas, one paved walkway located along the outer edge of the park and the other paved plaza surrounding the fountain. Walkways lead visitors to the Francis G. Newlands Memorial Fountain, a classically-designed Aquia sandstone structure named for the founder of Chevy Chase. Besides the fountain, the only other structure historically located at Chevy Chase Circle was a set of trolley line poles. The trolley figured prominently in Chevy Chase’s development, bringing city dwellers into the community in the late 19th century. However, by the 1940s, popular use of automobiles made the trolley obsolete, and the poles were removed. The circle’s landscape is a prominent scenic feature as viewed by pedestrians and drivers approaching and traveling around the circle. Chevy Chase Circle contains small-scale features including the Garden Club of America Aquia sandstone markers and National Park Service standard benches. The concrete and wood benches were installed in 1956 in a circular ring bordering the park’s central plaza. Automobiles have occasionally damaged the benches, requiring the repair by the NPS. Design ideas influenced the development of Chevy Chase Circle in 1933. Inspiration for the park’s landscape design may have come from the Picturesque suburb ideas beginning in the late 1860s, promoted by Frederick Law Olmsted and others; Chevy Chase Village was developed with a naturalistic, park-like setting following these ideas. In the circle, willow oaks and irregular plantings of yews indicated adherence to the naturalistic influence. The City Beautiful Movement dominated civic design projects in Washington, DC and beyond. This movement’s emphasis on classical design and public works is expressed in the circle’s simple classical fountain. Chevy Chase Circle’s period of significance began in 1890 when the circle was formed, and ends in 1933 when the park was formally developed. The park is significant at the local level under Criterion C of the National Register criteria, in the area of Community Planning and Development. It is also significant under Criteria Consideration F as a commemorative property because of the memorial fountain. Chevy Chase Circle has retained integrity as measured by the seven National Register characteristics. Damage by automobiles has been the largest threat to the park’s integrity in all characteristics. Chevy Chase Circle has been mostly well maintained, but some portions of the circle have suffered damage. The outer walkway flagstones are buckled and uneven, most likely because of root growth of the adjacent willow oaks. Other features of the circle have received a good degree of attention. The fountain in particular has received careful, appropriate restoration, in 1990 and 2003 in addition to periodic repairs due to automobile damage.

Chevy Chase Circle: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Rock Creek Park - DC Street Plan Reservations, National Park Service

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