Overview
The Chandler Road Recreation Area is a 44-acre property located at 138–140 Chandler Road, adjacent to Interstate 93 on its western boundary. The land, occassionally refered to as the “Park Property,” was acquired by Town Meeting in 2022 with the goal of expanding recreational opportunities for Andover residents. Since the property was previously undeveloped, the Town is approaching its transformation in multiple phases to ensure thoughtful planning, strong community engagement, and responsible investment. Conceptual plans for future phases of the site contemplate the addition of significant community amenities, including athletic fields and passive recreation areas.
Funding for the Chandler Road Recreation Area has been supported through prior Town Meeting appropriations, state earmarks, and federal ARPA funds.
Project Phasing
Development of the Chandler Road Recreation Area is being carried out in stages to allow for gradual activation of the site and ample opportunities for public input. Each phase will build upon the foundation established in the preceding one. While future phases are expected to include larger community amenities such as athletic fields and passive recreation areas, the first phase focuses on essential site preparation and low-impact public use.
Phase I: Community Garden and Parking Area
Phase I of the project introduces the first public amenities to the site: a community garden and a small parking area along Chandler Road. Construction began in 2025 and is now nearing completion.
Key elements of Phase I include:
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Creation of 45 community garden beds, including 39 raised beds and 6 accessible beds designed at table height.
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Demolition and removal of the vacant house and barn at the Chandler Road frontage to clear space for the new facilities.
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Construction of a new parking area and access road near Chandler Road .
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Initial site improvements based on conceptual designs reviewed at public meetings, with details refined through ongoing community outreach.
Phase I marks a meaningful first step toward activating this long-planned community resource and will help shape the direction of future improvements.
Looking Ahead: Planning for Phase II
The Town is preparing to initiate design work for Phase II, following the approval of capital funding at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting. This next stage is expected to include more substantial recreational amenities, informed by an extensive public engagement process. Input gathered from residents will guide decisions on elements such as athletic fields, trails, and passive recreation spaces. The Town has engaged Activitas, Inc., a landscape achiteture firm, to support the planning and design of this phase.
Phase II Public Input
The Town of Andover held its first public input meeting for Phase 2 Design of the Chandler Road Recreational Area on November 20, 2025. The public presentation and survey conducted at the meeting are available under “Documents & Resources” on this page. A second survey is being developed for the entire community to take part in and will be posted to this page shortly. The project design team will be reviewing all information and feedback gathered from the November 20 meeting and all subsequent surveys. Activitas, the project landscape architect, will take this information and will be creating multiple design options for the public to review at a second public input meeting to be held on January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Robb Center, 30 Whittier Court.
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