Arboretum to create new, better entrances for pedestrians and cyclists - but not right now

The US Department of Agriculture wants to make perimeter improvements to the Arboretum including upgrading and replacing fences and  gates. The two most important gate changes, at Bladensburg Road and M Street are still in the long-term plan, but not something they plan to do right now.

The US Department of Agriculture has been getting the approval it needs to make changes to the Arboretum's gates and 2.4 miles of fencing for some time now, for both aesthetic and practical reasons. 

The existing fencing and gates are in various states of disrepair and are not consistent in appearance and design due to various sections being installed at later dates from the original fencing installed in the 1960s. Portions of the existing fence, mainly along New York Avenue are located outside USNA property and it is the intent to relocate those sections of fencing onto USNA property. Also, USNA is experiencing deer entering the Property and destroying specimen plantings throughout the year, and fawns being trapped between the pickets. The project proposes to install new fencing that maintains a consistent height of 8’-0” and picket spacing set to a maximum of 4” on center. Studies have indicated that fencing of 8 feet have reduced deer infestation as much as 90%.

While replacing the fencing and moving it a few feet in might be interesting, it's not really important for cycling, but the location and condition of the gates is.

The biggest change they plan - but not now - is to add a gate on Bladensburg Road, something they've been planning to do for 20 years. Maybe they'll get to it during infrastructure week. When finished, that gate will be open to all users and become the main entrance, and the current main gate at R Street will become staff-use only. However there is some indication that they will restore and open the adjacent pedestrian gate. If they do, they should absolutely make that gate available for the general public. It will create an entrance for people who live in the Arboretum neighborhood and another way for cyclists to access the property.

The other big change is their plan to turn the M Street gate that was closed in 1992 into a non-car entry. That too will have to wait. [They say it was closed for "operational reasons" but it was closed because of crime.] 

A new perimeter M Street gate will require coordination between the National Arboretum, District officials, and local community to improve the right-of-way, which is District property, and to address potential future operational issues

The M Street entrance is likely to become the end point for the Arboretum Bridge that is to be built with the next section of the Anacostia River Trail, so it's particularly important. And in this case, the institutional support is pretty strong. Delegate Elanor Holmes Norton came out in favor of reopening. In its response to the plan, the National Capital Planning Commission recommended that the National Arboretum work with the District and local community to reestablish the M Street entrance for pedestrians and bicyclists. And others have voiced similar support over the years. It's unclear if the entrance will use the main automobile gate or the smaller pedestrian access gate adjacent to it.

Other gate modifications will happen in the short term.  The Washington Times gate along New York Avenue will change from a double swing gate capable of allowing cars through to a single span one that isn't. But currently cars aren't allowed to use it anyway. Two other service gates along NY Ave will be removed. A maintenance gate and the main gate along NY Ave will be replaced with more modern equipment. The "Azalea guard house" and gate will be removed and salvaged for future use (maybe it could become the entry gate for people coming from the new bridge). 

It's hard to get excited about the short-term change - though I don't want any more fawns getting caught in the fence, but it's the two gates that are farther out, and the bridge, that are real game changers. 

Comments

[Brian]

Fun fact: the stone pillars on either side of the NY Ave gate were originally on the Capitol grounds for their fence. You can see more of them in random places along Constitution, and there is a matching guard house that was moved at 15th/Constitution.

[Purple Eagle]

Is there an online report you are referencing? I would like to see a higher-res version of that map.

[washcycle]

Yes. One of the links was screwed up and the other I failed to add. Here's the CFA presentation and the NCPC report.

[Purple Eagle]

Thanks!

[mike]

the arboretum connections would be very practical. i just dont have confidence in the NPS to make it happen...i hope im wrong.

[washcycle]

Since this is a Department of Agriculture facility, I'd be stunned if NPS made the connections happen.