ANC 3F RESOLUTION REGARDING PROPOSAL FOR TEST CLOSURE

OF BEACH DRIVE TO MOTORIZED VEHICLES

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F

North Cleveland Park, Forest Hills & Tenleytown

4401-A Connecticut Avenue, N.W., #244

Washington, D.C. 20008-2322
 
 

WHEREAS: ANC 3F includes the portion of Rock Creek Park west of Rock Creek, South of Military Road, N.W. and north of Tilden Street, N.W. including Melvin Hazen Park and Soapstone Valley Park ; and
 

WHEREAS: Beach Drive traverses this portion of Rock Creek Park; and
 

WHEREAS: in March 2003 the National Park Service (NPS) released a Draft General Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement for Rock Creek Park and the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway providing four alternatives for consideration:
 

Alternative A: Improved management of established park uses.

Alternative B: Continue current management/No action.

Alternative C: Nonmotorized recreation emphasis.

Alternative D: Mid-weekday recreation enhancement; and
 

WHEREAS: the major difference between the four alternatives is the traffic management measures for Beach Drive, with alternatives A, C and D providing for restricting or prohibiting motorized vehicles on certain sections of Beach Drive including the section in ANC3F; and
 

WHEREAS: Alternatives A, C and D also provide for:
 

Upgrading recreation trails.

Increasing use of park historic resources for interpretive and educational purposes.

Improving park introduction and information services.

Relocating park administrative facilities and U.S. Park Police substation outside the park;
 

WHEREAS: alternatives A, C and D would divert traffic that would use Beach Drive under alternative B to nearby residential and other street including streets in ANC3F; and
 

WHEREAS: on May 19, 2003 ANC3F approved Resolution 03-08 recommending that the NPS:
 

A. adopt Alternative B: Continue current management/No action; and
 

B. adopt the proposals in Alternatives A, C and D to (a) upgrade park trails, (b) increase use of park historic resources for interpretive and educational purposes, (c) improve park introduction and information services, and (d) relocate park administrative facilities and U.S. Park Police substation outside the park; and
 

WHEREAS: the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is now supporting a trial demonstration for the closure of Beach Drive between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm weekdays; and
 

WHEREAS: DDOT states that a trial demonstration would require review and approval by the affected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions; and
 

WHEREAS: the current mix of recreational and nonrecreational use of the park and parkway, including urban traffic, is appropriate and enhances the quality of life in the city and surrounding region; and
 

WHEREAS: adoption of Alternative B will permit the NPS to continue to implement service wide legal mandates and policies including natural resource management, cultural resource management, special use management and visitor experience and park use requirements;
 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: ANC 3F recommends that there be no trial demonstration or other closure of Beach Drive to motorized vehicles; and
 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: ANC 3F recommends and urges DDOT to withdraw its proposal for a trial demonstration for the closure of Beach Drive.

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Approved by a vote of 5-0-0 at a duly noticed public meeting on September 15, 2003, with a quorum present.

/s/ Cathy Wiss                                                            /s/ David J. Bardin
Cathy Wiss, Chair                                                        David J. Bardin, Secretary