Fort Hunt Site Development Plan may remove bike loop

According to someone who attended the September 21 informational EA/AoE Public Meeting For the Fort Hunt Site Development Plan, the plan will remove most of the 1.25 mile paved loop and replace it with a trail (maybe paved but most likely pea gravel).  I've never ridden the loop there, but I've heard that it is a popular place for interval training. Here's the description of the preferred alternative

Alternative C(Preferred Alternative)– Alternative C would realign the park entrance road and provide two-way traffic from the park entrance to Parking Area C, where vehicular use of the roadway would terminate with a turn-around. The loop road between Picnic Areas D and E would be removed along with the parking areas at these locations. A visitor facility would be constructed at the site of the existing Picnic Pavilion/Area C and an interpretive trail would extend from the visitor facility throughout the park. Picnic Pavilions/Areas B, C, D, and E would be removed under Alternative C along with the restroom facility located in the vicinity of Picnic Area E. The ball field adjacent to Picnic Pavilion D would be removed. The ball field adjacent to Picnic Pavilion A would be improved. A new pedestrian/bicycle trail would parallel the north section of the loop road; the southern portion of the loop road would be narrowed by approximately 50 percent (10 to 12 feet) for non-motorized/pedestrian/bicycle use.

I don't know enough about the area to know if this is a net positive or net negative. Thoughts?

informational EA/AoE Public Meeting

Comments

[Dave]

Um, why change something that seems to be just fine? Replacing paved road w/pea gravel means no bikes. That would be especially galling if the whole point is to let cars have two-way traffic.

[freewheel]

It looks like it would be a more interesting ride than the current park road, which is shared with cars. Of course, where the NPS is involved, implementation is everything. They should have a real, live cyclist involved in designing this.

Also, whenever you remove ballfields and picnic areas, you're going to have a revolt on your hands. So good luck, NPS.