Avondale, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Avondale
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 Avondale
Location in Maryland
Avondale
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Prince George's |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 597031 |
Avondale is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. This means it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own city government.
Avondale is located between Eastern Avenue NE (to the south), Queens Chapel Road (to the east), and the Northwest Branch Anacostia River (to the north and west).
It borders several other communities in Prince George's County, like Hyattsville, Chillum, Green Meadows, and Mount Rainier. Avondale also touches the North Michigan Park neighborhood in Northeast Washington D.C..
The Avondale area is made up of three smaller sections: Avondale, Avondale Terrace, and North Avondale. Even though it's part of the Chillum census-designated place (CDP) for counting people, Avondale is its own separate neighborhood.
Avondale's Early History
The community of Avondale started in the late 1930s. It began as a small group of homes where Eastern Avenue and Queens Chapel Road meet.
How Avondale Grew
In the 1930s, new homes and buildings began to spread west from nearby towns like Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, and Brentwood. People who were building homes in Avondale told buyers that the area was very close to Washington D.C. They also highlighted that it already had important services like water and electricity.
Building the First Homes
Construction of the Avondale Grove section began in 1939. By 1942, about 100 buildings were in the community. These were located along eight streets on a piece of land shaped like a wedge. At the very tip of this area, Carson Circle forms a quarter-circle. This circle is the entrance to the community, connecting Queens Chapel Road and LaSalle Road. The streets inside Avondale spread northward from Carson Circle. Houses built in the 1940s and 1950s are found along these streets, within the areas called Avondale Terrace and North Avondale.
Apartment Buildings in the 1960s
In the 1960s, more development happened along Queens Chapel Road in Avondale. Three large apartment complexes were built: Kings Park Plaza, Queens Park Plaza, and Avondale Overlook. Other apartment buildings in Avondale, such as La Salle Park, Avondale Park, and Manor Apartments, were built soon after.
Metro Station Plans
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency (WMATA) first planned a Metro station called "Chillum" on Chillum Road in Avondale in 1955. However, WMATA stopped this plan in 1978. Many residents in Avondale and Chillum, and people living in the Kirkwood Apartments in Hyattsville, did not want their homes, parks, or schools to be disturbed. Prince George's County and environmental groups also opposed the plan because it would have harmed park land and local wildlife.
West Hyattsville Metro Station
In 1985, WMATA decided it would be better to put the Metro station in Hyattsville. This new location was where an old drive-in movie theater and a car dealership used to be. Because of this decision, the station was named "West Hyattsville." Construction of the Green Line train tracks between the Fort Totten and West Hyattsville Metro Stations was supposed to start in 1986 and finish by 1990. However, due to a lack of money, construction was delayed until 1990 and was finally completed on December 11, 1993.
Important Institutions
In 1931, De La Salle College opened in Avondale. This was a religious study house for the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic teaching group. Today, this building is home to the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Washington. Part of this property was also used to create the Avondale Neighborhood Park.
In 1962, Avondale also became home to the St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home. This facility was run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Now, it is known as the St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families. It also includes St. Ann's Catholic High School.
Shopping in Avondale
Avondale has a few shopping areas that serve the community.
The Shops at Queens Chillum
This is the main shopping center for the Avondale neighborhood. It is located at the corner of Queens Chapel Road and Chillum Road.
A Historic Grocery Store
For many years, the main store in this shopping center was a Giant Food Store. It was open from 1954 until April 4, 2013. This Giant Food Store was one of the first Giant Food stores to open in the Washington D.C. area. It was even called "A Historic Giant." This is because Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited this Giant in 1957. They stopped there on their way back to the White House after watching a football game with President Eisenhower at the University of Maryland.
The Giant store was the most important business in the shopping center for about sixty years. For many years, it was the only easy place for older people and long-time residents of Avondale and Mount Rainier to buy groceries. This Giant store closed its doors on April 4, 2013.
Chillum Shopping Center
The second shopping center that serves Avondale is the Chillum Shopping Center. It is located right behind The Shops at Queens Chillum. The WMATA Green Line train passes this shopping center when it travels between the West Hyattsville and Fort Totten stations.
Parks and Recreation
Avondale has parks where people can play and relax.
Avondale Neighborhood Park
Avondale Neighborhood Park is located where La Salle Road and Ingraham Street meet. It is just north of the Maryland-Washington D.C. line (Eastern Avenue NE). This park is next to the NMS Hyattsville Health Care Facility, De La Salle College, Manor Apartments, Avondale Park Apartments, and St. Ann's Catholic High School. It is the main park in the Avondale community. The park has a small picnic area, a field for kickball or baseball, a small basketball court, a small playground, and a tennis court.
Chillum Community Park
Chillum Community Park is located between Avondale and Chillum. Only the part of the park east of the Northwest Branch Anacostia River is in Avondale. This part is at the corner of Chillum Road and 18th Avenue. The part of the park west of the Northwest Branch Anacostia River is in Chillum. This side is at the corner of 16th Avenue and Ray Road.
The Avondale side of Chillum Community Park has a very small playground, a small picnic area, and a small basketball court. The Chillum side of the park also has a very small playground and picnic area. However, instead of a basketball court, it has a small soccer field.
Trails
- Northwest Branch Trail is a 21-mile (34 km) multi-use trail that goes through Avondale. The trail follows along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River. It is part of the Rachel Carson Greenway and the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. One end of the trail is in Layhill, and the other end is in Bladensburg.
