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The Woodworth Park Hub is unique in having a wide variety of terrain from hilly upland to a marsh being fed by Tributary 3. The marsh filters and purifies the water, enabling the downstream part of the creek to support a variety of aquatic life. The park also includes some very old trees, mountain laurel, native azaleas and a small population of wildflowers. Woodworth Park has been the focus of educational, stream restoration and invasives removal activities by Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek. A recently completed 3/4 mile long trail allows hiking between Cheverly Community Center and Cheverly Ave., through a variety of habitats. The Google map below shows a portion of the trail.
PDF1725-01 Woodworth nd - 2.pdfUndated plan for Woodworth park.
"Cheverly Lake Park," Cheverly Newsletter, 1973.
The Park
Platting for the portion of route 50 at Cheverly began in 1952 and involved two major iterations. The first, platted from 1962 through 1966, would have created a “trumpet interchange” (roughly, one leaf of a cloverleaf) located generally west of the Cabin Branch Road line on land through which Tributary 3 runs. 1969 brought a revised plan with ramps reaching into the heart of Cheverly on Parkway and Forest, opposite the Cheverly United Methodist Church. That plan was subsequently eliminated, paving the way for Cheverly’s acquisition of over 4 acres for Woodworth Park in 1975.
A 1973 proposal to build a lake in the park was dropped, and the land remained "undeveloped" until 2007, when Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek began its work.
Access to the park is at the intersection of Wayne Place and Cheverly Park Drive, where there is a tot lot.
Woodworth Park Trail
The .8 mile-long natural surface connects three town-ownwed parks, Town Park, Woodworth Park, and Magruder Spring Park. The trail was created by Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek; Cub Scout troop 257 participated in building the extension from Parkway to Cheverly Avenue. The plant identification signage and kiosk were Eagle Scout projects. The property is owned by the State Highway Administration, the Town of Cheverly, Prince George’s County, and private owners. Gentle hills, wooden bridges.
Access:
From the Cheverly Community Center beyond Tucker Pavilion. Parking in the Community Center upper lot.
From the Woodworth Park tot lot, corner of Cheverly Park Drive and Wayne Place. Parking on street.
From the junction of Arbor Street and Parkway. Parking on street. There is also parking for two cars at the gate.
From the south end of Cheverly Avenue at Arbor Street (Magruder Spring). Parking on street.
The following directions assume you are beginning at the basketball court.
Enter the trail at the gateway.
A spur trail comes in from Wayne Place. Bear left.
Trail bears right. A stand of Devil’s Walking Stick (castor aralia) is on the left.
Continue on trail, noting signs identifying trees and other plants.
A short spur to an overlook comes in from the left. From the overlook you can see the now abandoned beaver pond. Trail bears right.
You come to the outlet of Tributary 3. Steps to the right lead to the tot lot. Turn left to continue along the west bank of the tributary.
Trail bears right where there is a slope covered by May apples in season, and continues along the north bank of the former beaver pond. (The May apple is Cheverly’s town flower.)
Trail forks. The left fork continues straight across the Pepco right of way and Parkway extension to the continuation of the trail and Cheverly Avenue. The right fork continues to Arbor Street and Parkway.
You can either take the cross trail or walk south along the right of way. Take a break at Ken’s Corner, a native-plant garden. Follow a bridge over a small tributary. Enjoy a meadow being created in the Pepco right of way, with its own trail.
Follow the trail to Magruder Spring. Cross a bridge and take in the Magruder Spring native-plant garden. Continue up shallow steps to Cheverly Avenue.
Want more?
You may extend your hike by crossing Cheverly Avenue and continuing west on Arbor Street past Judith Hoyer Early Education Center. There is parking in the school parking lot. There is also parking for two cars where Carlyle Street meets Belmont Street.
Follow the paved path running along the southern edge of the schoolyard. Cross Valley Way and continue on a paved path to 59th Place. Jog south on Benton Road and then north on 59th Avenue. A partly paved path follows paper Belmont Street, the boundary line between Cheverly and Tuxedo. Follow the path to the intersection of Carlyle Street and a short paved section of Belmont Street.
You may extend your walk even further by taking Crest Avenue to Greenleaf Road, left on Greenleaf, and right onto Tremont Street. Climb the Tremont hill, and where the sidewalk ends you will be in Cheverly Nature Park.
Who Lives in the Park?
See the inventories of plants, birds, and other creatures.
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