Celebrating historic decision to open upper Beach Drive for Recreation

November 2, 2022 -Rock Creek Park was established by Congress in 1890 to preserve the “natural, archaeological, and historic resources of the Rock Creek Valley … while providing visitors with compatible recreational opportunities and a respite within the nation’s capital” It was the third federal park, and the first urban national park.

Earlier this year, Rock Creek Park made the bold decision to redesignate an area of the park named for a segregationist as Reservation 630. Now the park has updated its general management plan to prioritize equitable access to recreation on upper Beach Drive. Rock Creek Park continues to lead, modeling the next century of first-class park management and holding this urban oasis in trust for all Americans.

Rock Creek Conservancy Executive Director Jeanne Braha celebrates the park’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI): “Permanently opening Upper Beach Drive for recreation reflects a deep commitment to equitable access to recreation and protection of natural resources. The Conservancy is pleased to offer significant support to Rock Creek Park to ensure that Rock Creek Park continues to be the heart, lungs, and soul of our region, even with increased recreational use.”

The Conservancy will support mitigation efforts, continue to offer weekly opportunities for the Rock Creek community to roll up their sleeves to volunteer in the park and will push local leaders to ensure traffic mitigation continues around the park.

Thanks to PARC, WABA, and all the members of the Rock Creek community who have voiced support for this change for decades. The Conservancy will celebrate this decision and all its supporters with a ‘Beach Party’ at a date to be determined in the coming weeks.

Learn more about NPS’s decision here.

Rock Creek Conservancy Comments on Environmental Assessment

August 8, 2022 - There is no doubt that permanent, year-round recreational use of upper Beach Drive would provide transformative benefits for Rock Creek Park, its wildlife, and our community. The decision to keep upper Beach Drive open to seven-day-a-week recreation in summers is an important step towards that more equitable vision for America’s first urban national park.

The National Park Service is charged with balancing resource protection with visitor enjoyment. This Environmental Assessment makes clear the latter is a strong stressor on the park. As the park’s philanthropic and stewardship partner, Rock Creek Conservancy will continue to identify and make possible implementation of safer, more equitable access to the recreational opportunities in Rock Creek Park and protect the fragile forests that make them so enjoyable.

All community members are encouraged to share their views by submitting comments by Thursday, August 11.

View the Conservancy’s comments here.

A few key ideas:

• The decision about how to manage Beach Drive is one not just of park management, but ties to a fundamental question about who we are and what we value as a community, as a region, and as a nation.

• The pandemic and this public process have created a rare opportunity to rethink and focus on those issues.

• As the nation’s first urban national park, Rock Creek Park can and should be a leader in this regard, charting the way for the next century of first-class park management and holding this urban oasis in the trust of all Americans.

• The Conservancy continues to endorse the approach outlined as Alternative 2: Full-Time Closure for Recreation, and strongly suggests the National Park Service change its recommended preferred alternative.

• We understand the forests are at risk - and the protection of natural resources is fundamental. And we are here to help: the Rock Creek Resilience project and related forest health efforts can and should provide a trail map to reduce social trails and promote healthy forests in late 2023.

• Management decisions by DC agencies should not assume any additional capacity of the roads in Rock Creek Park to support any excess traffic volume.

• If NPS ultimately chooses to proceed with Alternative 3: Seasonal Closure for Recreation, the Conservancy suggests that the adaptive management approach mentioned in the Environmental Assessment be conducted in a transparent and timely manner.

• If Alternative 3 is selected, NPS must offer more safety measures to protect pedestrians and cyclists in the park along Beach Drive, such as those referenced in the Rock Creek Park General Management Plan, such as physical traffic calming measures and increased speed limit enforcement.

Summer 2021 Concept Comments

The National Park Service has announced the process for public to share their views on the proposed changes, which started July 8, 2021. The Conservancy called for the community to submit comments to express support for Beach Drive for recreation and wildlife (Concept 2). The following are some key points we encouraged community members to include: 

• Express strong support for Concept 2, “Full Closure for Recreation”

• Concept 2 would increase accessibility of the park’s recreational resources

• Concept 2 would increase visitor safety

• Concept 2 might create increases of traffic to surrounding areas, and DDOT should cooperate in the process to develop mitigation strategies. This tradeoff is unfortunate but for the greatest good

• Parts of this region lack open space, and Beach Drive creates a needed outlet

• Concept 2 is consistent with historic plans and management of Rock Creek Park

• Concept 2 would benefit the park’s natural resources, which are key drivers of the region’s climate resilience

A copy of the comments submitted by the Conservancy is available here. Gary Guzy, Conservancy board member, shared remarks at a town hall hosted by Congresswoman Norton. 

Support for CLOSURE

Several past actions by elected officials demonstrate a vision across multiple levels of government for a common goal: a greener and more livable urban environment for all.

• DC Council passed a resolution calling on the National Park Service to permanently close portions of upper Beach Drive to vehicle traffic, so that they may be used year-round for recreation.

• Montgomery County Council resolution passed June 15 calling for the continuation of a number of Open Streets programs, including upper Beach Drive and the Open Parkways initiative in Montgomery Parks.

• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) published a letter to the Acting Director of the National Park Service requesting the closure of portions of upper Beach Drive.

Celebrating historic decision to open upper Beach Drive for Recreation

November 2, 2022 - Rock Creek Park was established by Congress in 1890 to preserve the “natural, archaeological, and historic resources of the Rock Creek Valley … while providing visitors with compatible recreational opportunities and a respite within the nation’s capital” It was the third federal park, and the first urban national park.

Earlier this year, Rock Creek Park made the bold decision to redesignate an area of the park named for a segregationist as Reservation 630. Now the park has updated its general management plan to prioritize equitable access to recreation on upper Beach Drive. Rock Creek Park continues to lead, modeling the next century of first-class park management and holding this urban oasis in trust for all Americans.

Rock Creek Conservancy Executive Director Jeanne Braha celebrates the park’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI): “Permanently opening Upper Beach Drive for recreation reflects a deep commitment to equitable access to recreation and protection of natural resources. The Conservancy is pleased to offer significant support to Rock Creek Park to ensure that Rock Creek Park continues to be the heart, lungs, and soul of our region, even with increased recreational use.”

The Conservancy will support mitigation efforts, continue to offer weekly opportunities for the Rock Creek community to roll up their sleeves to volunteer in the park and will push local leaders to ensure traffic mitigation continues around the park.

Thanks to PARC, WABA, and all the members of the Rock Creek community who have voiced support for this change for decades. The Conservancy will celebrate this decision and all its supporters with a ‘Beach Party’ at a date to be determined in the coming weeks.

Summer 2021 Concept Comments

The National Park Service has announced the process for public to share their views on the proposed changes, which started July 8, 2021. The Conservancy called for the community to submit comments to express support for Beach Drive for recreation and wildlife (Concept 2). The following are some key points we encouraged community members to include: 

• Express strong support for Concept 2, “Full Closure for Recreation”

• Concept 2 would increase accessibility of the park’s recreational resources

• Concept 2 would increase visitor safety

• Concept 2 might create increases of traffic to surrounding areas, and DDOT should cooperate in the process to develop mitigation strategies. This tradeoff is unfortunate but for the greatest good

• Parts of this region lack open space, and Beach Drive creates a needed outlet

• Concept 2 is consistent with historic plans and management of Rock Creek Park

• Concept 2 would benefit the park’s natural resources, which are key drivers of the region’s climate resilience

A copy of the comments submitted by the Conservancy is available here. Gary Guzy, Conservancy board member, shared remarks at a town hall hosted by Congresswoman Norton. 

Support for CLOSURE

Several past actions by elected officials demonstrate a vision across multiple levels of government for a common goal: a greener and more livable urban environment for all.

• DC Council passed a resolution calling on the National Park Service to permanently close portions of upper Beach Drive to vehicle traffic, so that they may be used year-round for recreation.

• Montgomery County Council resolution passed June 15 calling for the continuation of a number of Open Streets programs, including upper Beach Drive and the Open Parkways initiative in Montgomery Parks.

• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) published a letter to the Acting Director of the National Park Service requesting the closure of portions of upper Beach Drive.