Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office shared links to the recording of the National Park Service (NPS) quarterly town hall that was held on November 16, 2022.

NPS Town Hall Part 1, November 16, 2022
Passcode: 6MU@?Gzq

NPS Town Hall Part 2, November 16, 2022
Passcode: 6MU@?Gzq

Congresswoman Norton’s office also shared very brief FAQs from NPS on a few different topics from the town hall. See NPS Answers to November 2022 Town Hall FAQs.

The response regarding the North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Station pedestrian trail is similar (but not identical) to the update I previously shared in this post. NPS is now saying that they intend to issue a contract for redesign of the trail in early 2023. They still expect redesign to be done in mid-2023 if they are able to get the contract done in time. From the FAQs:

FORT TOTTEN PEDESTRIAN TRAIL PROJECT

The NPS stopped work on this project for a second time after uncovering a portion of the Metrorail’s green line tunnel during trail construction. After a thorough review and subsequent discussions with engineers and additional engagement with WMATA, the National Park Service has determined that we will need to redesign the trail with a new alignment. It is our intent to issue a ontract for this redesign in early 2023. If this can be done, we should have design completed in mid-2023.

When funding is available, we will proceed with construction, but that may take some time, as we won’t know the costs of construction until we have a design completed. In the meantime, we will update the public on a regular basis as we proceed with the design.

The first pause in construction occurred after workers uncovered an empty, unused World War One ordnance. This discovery required the NPS to search for other unexploded ordnances and to test the soil for contaminants. No contamination and no other shells were found.

We look forward to completing this trail and appreciate the public engagement we’ve received
on this project.

I will just add that on December 2, 2022, in response to pictures submitted by a resident showing the abandoned path mud pit, Rock Creek Park Superintendent Julia Washburn emailed a few residents, ANC 5A commissioners, and Ward 5 council staff to share that NPS will “work on putting down wood chips and making the path more walkable in the coming weeks.” She also noted that the delay has interfered with their funding sources and cycles.

The FAQs do not have answers to any other questions regarding Fort Totten/Fort Circle Park in our neighborhood.

View the town hall recap post for my summary of NPS responses during the live event.