This looks like a problem where I can use the difference of squares formula: $(a^2 - b^2) = (a + b)(a - b)$. In this case, $a = 252$ and $b = 248$, so I can rewrite the expression as $(252 + 248)(252 - 248)$. This simplifies to $(500)(4)$, which is easier to compute than the original expression. Multiplying 500 by 4 gives me 2000. 
Compute the value of $252^2 - 248^2$.