The Student Conservation Association is seeking a grant to replace a bridge along Oxon Run in Forest Heights, MD.
This summer, assuming the grant applications are approved, six to 12 area students, ages 15 to 18, will be put to work building a proper bridge.
The article isn't entirely clear where the bridge is, or if it is a bridge to cross Oxon Run or one of the two tributaries in that area, but "The bridge is a critical piece in the Oxon Run project, [Heather Deutsch of DDOT] said." DDOT is involved with the project, because of their involvement with the Oxon Run trail, but I'm pretty sure it's in Maryland.
If everything goes according to plan, Oxon Run will provide jobs for high school students who will spend six summer weeks installing a bridge on the trail that runs along the creek. Forest Heights is coordinating the effort with the District Department of Transportation and the Student Conservation Association, an Arlington-based nonprofit organization.
In 2009, the transportation department identified Oxon Run as a location that would benefit from its Trails Program. The program, in place since 1991, looks to provide safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access through the region by creating a network of trails.
Renovating and adding to existing trails along Oxon Run would eventually make it possible for someone to bike from the District to Mount Vernon in Virginia, said Heather Deutsch, a DDOT trail planner overseeing the Oxon Run project.
The plan will take about $10 million and three years to complete and can be paid for with federal tax dollars siphoned to projects such as trails and transportation enhancement, Deutsch said.
Some other planned upgrades along Oxon Run include installing lighting, landscaping, benches and signage, as well as a pond and wetlands aimed at improving water quality, Deutsch said.
I don't really like the word "siphoned." It sounds like something sneaky is going on, but why quibble.
"If we renovate Oxon Run and the connection trail at Oxon Cove, people can get into Alexandria," Deutsch said. "That bridge is a missing piece."
Forest Heights has latched onto the project because its residents would benefit from it, Goodall said. Town volunteers have spent two years cleaning up the site to prepare for the upgrades.
"We utilize this walking trail," Goodall said. "A lot of our citizens exercise and walk up it. We have citizens who fish at the cove. It comes into our back yard."
If you look up Talbert Dr. in Forest Heights (mentioned in the article) on google maps there is a little stream there. It's a little north and east of the Oxon Hill Farm trail.
Posted by: Roy | February 18, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Do you mean the little stream that runs along the south side of Audrey lane?
Posted by: washcycle | February 18, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Yeah, I imagine that's it. I've not been over there in person.
Posted by: Roy | February 18, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Here is the area
http://goo.gl/85UDn
Posted by: Roy | February 18, 2011 at 06:07 PM