A Bike Friendly Arboretum

The post recently ran an article about funding problems at the National Arboretum. I've occasionally complained about the Arboretum's decision to not open the grounds to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail for the reason that it would interfere with their status as a research facility. I don't doubt that they do real research there, just the assertion that the trail would prevent them from doing it - an argument that is especially hollow considering all of the accommodations they make for tourists to drive through the facility (roads crisscrossing it and several spacious parking lots).

The Arboretum is, nonetheless, a great place to ride. The traffic is light and slow. It's hilly but beautiful. There's bike parking at almost every destination. They should really provide bike rentals at the visitor center, but that's another issue.

Eight years ago the Arboretum put together a new Master Plan

The plan calls for new footpaths linking the central gardens, a visitors and conference center, a 1,000-car parking lot, the infrastructure repairs and creation of an entrance off Bladensburg Road to replace the hazardous entrance on New York Avenue and an obscure one off R Street.

The cost was put at $61 million eight years ago. DDOT built the entrance in 2005 for $500,000, but a lack of funding mothballed the project and today the intersection leads to nowhere. "We certainly would like to see them complete their plans," DOT spokeswoman Karyn Le Blanc said, "but we have done everything we can do."

Right now, a cyclist can get in at the R Street entrance on the NW side or the NY Avenue entrance (good luck) or the Washington Times parking lot pedestrian entrance both on the north side. Technically you could get in from the two pedestrian gates on the east side, but the only way to get there is by boat - throw your bike on a canoe and you're golden. With the new master plan - that will move the R street entrance to Bladensburg road and close the New York Avenue entrance which is no real loss.

There used to be another entrance off M street NE. The old art deco gate is still there, with another fence beyond it. I have no idea why it was closed or when. Cost seems unlikely. There's no security to go through to get into the Arboretum and no fee to pay so it wouldn't require another employee. I fear it's because that gate opens to Carver Terrace - a "bad" neighborhood. If anyone knows why it was closed I'd love to hear it - I searched for a while before giving up. Another pedestrian entrance is on the SW corner of the site along Bladensburg. It too is closed. As it is, the Arboretum serves as a barricade to bike and ped traffic. I bike up Bladensburg road, over Mount Hamilton, every day on my way to work but the road has a low level of bicycle service.

The Arboretum is seeking more money and look who they're asking for help from:

"All the planning has not only assumed the arboretum, but has been around the arboretum," said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), who is working with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) to restore the budget.

I think the Arboretum is a great asset and real treasure for the city, but they aren't acting like a part of the city, so it's unfair for them to seek the help of our delegate.

It also draws fewer visitors, and FONA members say that if it were fully funded and polished, it would attract larger crowds.

If they want to behave like a neighbor and attract larger crowds, they should open their door to their neighbors in Carver Terrace. They should allow the trail along the waterfront outside the fence. They should reach out to their neighbors across the river by building a bike/ped bridge  from where the waterfront taxi stop is planned (#5 on the map) to the Mayfair Terrace neighborhood and Kenilworth Gardens. If they're having trouble finding money from charities and the government, maybe it's because they haven't given enough people a reason to care.

It could be so much more," said Dan Stark, executive director of the American Public Gardens Association.

I agree.

"If the federal government embraced it and took ownership as the true national treasure it could be, it would be a much more vibrant institution."

And if it embraced its place in the District and its neighbors, people in the District would take ownership and it would become truly vibrant.

Comments

[jeff]

The arboretum is one of my favorite places to ride....once I'm in there. Getting there is a nightmare, and I destroyed a wheel on the wheel-eating grates along Bladensburg once.

One of my biggest local cycling pet peeves is folks who drive to haines point to do laps, its just ridiculous. I've never understood why the arboretum never caught on as a place to do training laps. The hills make for more challenging riding and now that the Awakening is gone its far more scenic. It would be a fun place for a road race as well!

[washcycle]

Oh a road race would be awesome.

[Purple Eagle]

I agree with all of your point about the need to improve access and visability for the Arboretum (both for bikes and for people arriving on foot or by car). I would love to see the M St. entrance re-opened. I have been curious about it's status and I would guess that your speculation is correct. At least now I understand why there is a partically - constructed entrance on Bladensburg.

My guess is that the Arbo has not caught on as a place to do training laps because it's hard to get to, and even harder to leave (unless you want to head east on 50 and/or onto the BW Parkway).

[Richard Layman]

Excellent points. I am not sure that the Arb. has a boat dock, although the tours from the Bladensburg Waterfront Park have been advocating for this... it's the same issue.

[Purple Eagle]

There is a boat dock at the Arboretum. I think it's quite new, and is located near one of the two pedestrian gates on the river side of the facility. I was on a group canoe trip with Anacostia Watershed Society a few weeks ago and we tied up there and had lunch.