The National Park Service is proposing summer-long closures of the northern stretch of Beach Drive running through Rock Creek Park, a section that has stayed car-free since near the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
The closures extend from the Maryland state line to Broad Branch Road NW. The car-free stretches are separated by areas for drivers to cross through the park or reach picnic areas.
The Park Service has reviewed more than 4,100 public comments since last year as it weighs whether to make the closure to cars permanent, revert to the weekend-only setup or find some other plan. The agency also considered whether to keep the park car-free some days of the week or at certain times of the day.
“Reduced traffic in the closed section during the warmer months when forest vegetation is densest provides protection and preservation of wildlife and habitat for several park species because dense vegetation prohibits visitors’ desire and ability to create and use unofficial trails that impact forest habitat,” the environmental assessment says.
The vehicle-less section has become a popular destination for bike riders, joggers and families with children and dogs. The D.C. Council and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser have called for making the closure permanent. The Park Service said 5,000 to 8,000 cars a day would drive the closed stretch before the pandemic. The Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, the main commuter thoroughfare through the park, remains open and averaged about 50,000 vehicles daily before the pandemic, according to the Park Service.
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