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Several years ago, Sean Beeney's daughters would use the largest open space in Chevy Chase Village for everything from wild games of tag to birthday parties. Today, he believes that space, known as "Big Triangle Park," is a rare example of outdoor space people can easily enjoy.

"Everybody from toddlers to elderly people requiring assistance to walk use that space for various things," said Beeney, a 22-year village resident who lives on Park Street.

He and other neighbors of the .9-acre park, bordered by Kirkside Drive, Park Street and Oliver Street, have expressed concern about a plan put forth by Village Board Manager Peter Yeo to build a playground with associated equipment on open space somewhere in the municipality. They said to change the nature of the Big Triangle Park would deprive residents of important green space.

Yeo said the Big Triangle Park is not his preference for a playground because it is already a heavily-utilized public space, but did not rule out the possibility.

"I would think it would probably be better to focus on other properties," said Yeo.

Yeo said a petition he organized with roughly 75 signatures calling for a playground for children ages 1-6 was presented to the board roughly two months ago. Currently, there is no public playground in the village. He said since children in the village go to various elementary schools, a playground would be a good way to bring them together at an early age.

The village board approved a $5,000 appropriation for a study of playground landscaping possibilities at its July 13 meeting. Yeo said he would rather consider village open spaces at Brookville Road and Laurel Parkway before the Big Triangle Park. Results of the study, along with input from neighbors and playground concepts, could be presented to the board in October, Yeo said.

"There's a feeling that a playground should be utilized on an underused park. And the triangle park is the most utilized park," he said.

But residents near the triangle park are still concerned. Although Beeney said he was somewhat comforted by Yeo's remarks, he also indicated that because the park is flat and green, it would be an "ideal" place to have a structured playground from a planner's perspective.

Amy Christaldi, an Oliver Street resident, said she feared a playground with equipment could bring parking problems and possibly drug dealers to the neighborhood. She also expressed concern that the playground could also mean that other recreation infrastructure could be installed, like bocce courts and chess boards, and further disrupt the current "tranquil oasis" the park represents.

"Our main objection is that we believe the large space serves everybody," Christaldi said. "We don't like the idea of carving up the park by special interest groups."

She suggested that the currently unused Wohlfarth property, located between Grove Street and Western Avenue adjacent to Friendship Heights, would be a better location for a playground with equipment. The Wohlfarth property was purchased by the village in conjunction with the Parks Department in 2002. The village is determining what to do with the land after the former home and carriage house on the property were torn down about three months ago.

Yeo said the Wohlfarth property is being considered for a "natural playscape" that would utilize climbing boulders, mazes, and other organic features, instead of equipment. Community input on the future of the Wohlfarth land is scheduled for the fall.

Fifteen-year Oliver Street resident Charles Monk said he supported a new playground in the village and believed Yeo's statement that the Big Triangle Park was not the best choice for it. But he also worried that the village board could move ahead with a playground at the Big Triangle Park before he and his neighbors could voice their concerns.

"I'm more concerned than I used to be, because I know things can gain momentum and they can happen," Monk said.