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Re: Threat to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens?

From:

Russ Ruffing

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Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:16:07 -0500

Jason,

I believe you are talking about the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail project. It's a DDOT/National Park Service project. I worked on the environmental document for this project quite a few years ago (2004). My recollection is that a small part of the trail would cross wetland habitat near the river and would be constructed on an existing elevated berm (not wetlands) in some areas and on boardwalk in wetland areas so as to minimize the impacts. It probably would be a good project for birders in general as it would create access to otherwise inaccesible areas along the river. However, it would also give access to other folks as well, and we know how that goes. I don't know to what extent the design alternatives have changed in the intervening 7 years, but you can find good descriptions and analyses of the project in the Environmental Assessment that was published in 2004 at this url:
 
http://www.scribd.com/doc/44610804/Anacostia-Park-Anacostia-Riverwalk-Trail-Environmental-Assessment
 
There are three design sections discussed...you are interested in Design Section 3, which is the portion of the trail that includes Kenilworth Gardens. I've pasted a description of that Design Reach and its alternatives below:

<<Alternative 3A - Near Quarles Street, the proposed trail would turn to the west between an existing football fieldand tree line, continuing to the northeast corner of the Kenilworth Greenhouse property. The trailwould then turn north towards Lower Beaver Dam Creek. Just south of Lower Beaver DamCreek, the trail would turn west again and would be located on an existing berm until it reachesthe Anacostia River, where it would turn north along the east bank of the Anacostia Rivercrossing over Lower Beaver Dam Creek and beneath the Amtrak Railroad and New York Avenue bridges. The portion of the trail along the Anacostia River bank would be on an elevatedboardwalk structure to minimize impacts to wetland areas and existing vegetation. North of NewYork Avenue the proposed trail would gradually turn away from the Anacostia River to the eastuntil it terminates at the connection with the Bladensburg Trail. Additional elevated boardwalk structures may be required in this area to minimize impacts to wetlands and vegetation. Theproposed trail in this area would be 12 feet wide and the proposed boardwalk sections would be14 feet wide to accommodate railings.

Alternative 3B is the same as that of Alternative 3A except for the segment between AnacostiaAvenue and the Bladensburg Trail. The proposed trail would turn to the west near Quarles Streetbetween an existing fence line and football field, continuing to the southeast corner of theKenilworth Greenhouse property. From the southeast corner of the Kenilworth Greenhouse thetrail would turn to the north and then west, skirting the perimeter of the property, and continuewest on an existing berm until it reaches the Anacostia River. From the east bank of theAnacostia River at the Amtrak Railroad to its terminus at the Bladensburg Trail, Alternative 3B is the same as Alternative 3A
.
 
Alternative 3C is the same as that of Alternative 3A except for the segment between BenningRoad and Kenilworth Terrace. The trail would begin at the southwest corner of the BenningRoad/Anacostia Avenue intersection, cross Anacostia Avenue and Benning Road at existing crosswalks, and continue east along the sidewalk on the north side of Benning Road to Kenilworth Avenue. The trail would turn north along the sidewalk on the west side of Kenilworth Avenue and continue to Foote Street. The existing sidewalks on Benning Road, N.E.and Kenilworth Avenue would vary in width from 5 to 8 feet and are of varying condition.
 
The trail would turn west on Foote Street to Kenilworth Terrace, and then turn north onKenilworth Terrace continuing to the intersection of Kenilworth Terrace and Deane Avenue.From this intersection to the northern limit of Anacostia Avenue Alternative 3C is the same asthat of Alternative 3A.
 
Near the northern limit of Anacostia Avenue the proposed trail would enter a wooded area andturn northwest towards Lower Beaver Dam Creek. The initial portion of the trail in the woodedarea would be on an elevated boardwalk structure to minimize impacts to wetlands andvegetation. The trail would then turn north crossing over Lower Beaver Dam Creek.  On thenorth side of the creek the trail would turn west and head towards the Anacostia River betweenLower Beaver Dam Creek and the Amtrak Railroad tracks. From this point on Alternative 3C isthe same as Alternative 3A.>>

Russ Ruffing
Woostock, MD



Jun 17, 2011 08:55:36 AM,  wrote:

Hi All,
 
Last weekend my wife and I visited the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (KAG) in DC.  We met a group on a plant tour who informed us that someone is proposing to build a bike path through and undeveloped part of the Park (the river trail).  The bike trail is supposed to help commuters get to and from DC and Prince George's County.
 
As some of you might know, I'm a big biker, but loosing any habitat - especailly wetland habitat in the region and DC proper is very worrying.
 
The leader of the tour group said someone was going to post this to MDOsprey, but unless I missed it, I haven't seen anything yet.
 
...Anyone know what is happening with this?
 
Jason Berry
Washington, DC

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