Category Archives: Fort Circle Park

North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro Pedestrian Path Realignment Approved by Commission of Fine Arts

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, National Park Service, North Michigan PArk
Abandoned trail at 4th & Galloway Street NE.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) approved the final design for the North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro station pedestrian path realignment on its consent agenda on October 17, 2024. This is the short path that will link Gallatin and Galloway streets NE between South Dakota Avenue and 4th Street NE. The National Park Service (NPS) had begun construction on the trail years ago when construction workers first found an unexploded ordnance and then later encountered the top of Metro’s green line tunnel. So, NPS had to design a new alignment for the trail about 20 feet to the east and get all of the necessary approvals for the new alignment. The CFA review was the last approval needed after the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) determined that NCPC review was not necessary.

I have not gotten my hands on the 100% design just yet, but this post discussing the NCPC report contains a link to the 70% design.

Even better news is that I have been told that NPS has identified construction funding for the project. For a while, NPS had been saying that the agency still needed to identify construction funding. Now it looks like construction will be funded in Fiscal Year 2025 barring any last-minute roadblocks. Once the project is out for bid, NPS will have a better sense of how long construction will take.

Neighbors know this project has been sitting around for roughly 15 years (decades if we’re including the time that North Michigan Park residents had been advocating for the path). It is amazing how long it takes to build a pretty short one-block trail. It will be nice to finally get this path constructed and the abandoned construction site restored. And hopefully Metro and NPS have learned some valuable lessons about working together better along the way.

NPS Updates: North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro Pedestrian Path; Fort Totten Park Soil Testing

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, National Park Service, North Michigan PArk

A couple of updates on National Park Service (NPS) issues in the neighborhood.

North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro Pedestrian Path

Neighbor Gavin noted the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) will consider approval of preliminary and final site development plans for the North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Metro pedestrian path at a meeting on April 4, 2024 (titled Fort Totten Trail Realignment on the agenda).

This formal path between Gallatin and Galloway streets NE in parkland near Fort Totten Metro station has been delayed for years, first due to the discovery of an unexploded WWI ordnance during construction and then when workers encountered the high point of Metro’s tunnel. NPS had to determine a more suitable location for the path.

In January of this year, NPS stated that they were at about 70% design on the new realignment and expected the design to be completed this spring.

According to an NCPC February 2024 project report prepared by NPS, the path will be shifted about 20 feet to the east of the original location to avoid interference with Metro infrastructure. The path will be 10 feet wide. Eleven trees will have to be removed.

The report states:

A preferred alternative was selected in December 2022 from this study to realign the trail and the south entrance approximately 20 feet to the east, to redesign the entry at the south end of the trail and redesign the trail centerline profile to maximize tunnel coverage. A drainage ditch for the proposed new trail will drain to the DDOT catch basin and trench. Bollards will be employed at both sides of the tunnel to restrict the entry of heavy vehicles over the tunnel area. The trail profile will provide allowable steep grades with landings to meet accessibility criteria according to the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards with a goal of increasing the cover over the tunnel.

The realigned trail will meet WMATA’s max loading requirements. Part of the trail from Galloway Street to just before the tunnel will utilize permeable pavement. The remaining part of the trail that goes over the tunnel and down to Gallatin Street NE will utilize concrete which meets WMATA’s requirement for 30 inch frost depth above the tunnel.

The construction document phase will be completed Spring/Summer 2024. The construction solicitation phase is expected to occur in late 2024, pending the availability of funding, which has not been identified at this time.

The anticipated construction cost is approximately $650,000.

The project is listed under the “Proposed Exceptions” section on the agenda. Proposed exceptions are “types of projects where NCPC staff determines that a project is exempt from Commission review, based on certain criteria.”

NPS stated earlier this week that they are actively seeking construction funding and that discussions continue within NPS and with the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding investigations and potential site remediation in the areas where the unexploded ordnances were found.

Fort Totten Park Soil Testing

With respect to the request for more comprehensive soil testing in Fort Totten Park, NPS states that they continue to work with the Army Corps to identify funding to investigate unexploded ordnance and any site contamination issues in Fort Totten Park.

July 12: OAG In the Community: A Discussion of Environmental Health & Justice

Posted by nextstoprp in Environment, Fort Circle Park, Uncategorized

Attorney General Brian Schwalb and At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson will lead a community discussion on the environment beginning at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE.

Registration & information at https://oag.dc.gov/about-oag/oag-community.

January 21:Fort Circle Park Cleanup with ANC 5A09 Commissioner Zachary Ammerman

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A, Fort Circle Park

Fort Circle Park Cleanup with ANC Commissioner Zachary Ammerman (5A09)
January 21, 2023
10:00 am-12:00 noon

Meet at the Galloway Street side of the Gallatin-Galloway pedestrian trail. Gloves, trash bags, and a limited number of trash grabbers provided.

Stay for five minutes or two hours, up to you. This is also a chance to meet Commissioner Ammerman, say hello, and discuss neighborhood issues.

This event and other news are in Commissioner Ammerman’s newsletter. Sign up to receive Commissioner Ammerman’s ANC 5A09 updates at ANC5A09.com.

Links to National Park Service November 2022 Town Hall Recording & FAQs

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, National Park Service, Uncategorized

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.

July 13: Summer in the Parks at Fort Circle Park

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, National Park Service, Recreation

Summer in the Parks
Fort Circle Park (South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE)
July 13, 2022
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

From Rock Creek Conservancy

Join Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy for Wednesday evening Summer in the Parks events in July at Fort Circle Parks in NE DC from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Music from DJ Lance Reynolds and family-friendly games and activities will bring the Rock Creek community together to celebrate our urban oasis and #RecreateResponsibly in our parks.

Register Here

Registration is not required to attend this event, but those who register will receive email reminders and updates in advance.

More Updates on NMP-Fort Totten Pedestrian Path

Posted by nextstoprp in Environment, Fort Circle Park, North Michigan PArk
Image of original proposed location for pedestrian path between Gallatin and Galloway streets NE

At ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher’s 5A08 single member district (SMD) meeting on September 21, 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) provided more information about the need to halt construction on the long-awaited formal pedestrian path between Gallatin and Galloway streets NE that is supposed to connect North Michigan Park to Fort Totten Metro station.

The upshot is that as the construction team removed soil from the site, they encountered infrastructure that they and Metro believe is for the green line tunnel at Fort Totten Metro station. NPS is now working with Metro to find a more suitable location to build the pedestrian path away from Metro’s infrastructure. In response to a question about whether they believe that they will need to move the path significantly further east towards South Dakota Avenue, potentially making the path unnecessary because then people could just use South Dakota Avenue, NPS responded that they hope not. In response to a question about whether they believe they will run into the same issue regarding construction of a sidewalk on the south side of Galloway Street NE between South Dakota Avenue and 4th Street NE, NPS responded they hope not. With respect to the sidewalk, NPS stated that project is still in the design phase and that DDOT just transferred money received from the Federal Highway Administration for the project (NPS also stated this back in April 2021, so not quite sure what it means to say that DDOT just transferred the money).

NPS also stated they hoped to remove the fallen tree on the detour path by the end of September. Any issues with the detour path can be sent to nick_bartolomeo@nps.gov and kym_elder@nps.gov.

NPS did not provide a new timeline for getting the pedestrian path constructed. Metro is cooperating with NPS. NPS said it will take time to redesign the trail. Once the trail is redesigned, it will have to clear stormwater management review with the District Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE).

At the full ANC meeting on September 22, 2021, ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) informed Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) that residents are frustrated by yet another delay. Congresswoman Norton responded that this path has been delayed too long. Not exactly clear what her office will do about it. Commissioner Fletcher stated that he will invite NPS to ANC 5A’s October meeting.

Construction halted on North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Pedestrian Path Again

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, North Michigan PArk, Transportation
View of unfinished path from Galloway Street NE, September 8, 2021

Just when we thought things were finally back on track for construction of the North Michigan Park-Fort Totten pedestrian path between Galloway and Gallatin streets NE, ANC 5A sends word that the National Park Service (NPS) is halting construction again. And this time more indefinitely it appears. See the communication from ANC 5A below:

The National Park Service (NPS) recently paused construction of the Fort Totten pedestrian trail between Galloway Street and Gallatin Street, N.E. again. 

During preparations to resume construction, the NPS discovered an underground infrastructure that may prohibit the trail from being constructed as planned.    The NPS is surveying the site and considering other options for the trail that could include redesigning the trail or changing its route. 

The site will remain closed for public safety as we explore these options.  

We know this project is important to the community, and it is important to us, too.     We will resume construction as soon as possible. 

Please reach out to me at kym_elder@nps.gov if you should have any questions. 

Color me confused. NPS does not indicate exactly what this “underground infrastructure” is.

This also makes me wonder if a path/sidewalk will ever get constructed on the south side of Galloway between South Dakota and 4th Street NE. That path should have been designed a long time ago. I was told by someone in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) that after funding was finally budgeted for design, NPS designed a path that was six feet when it should have been 10 feet. Earlier this year in April, NPS wrote to me that “DDOT just transferred the funding to Federal Highway Administration to complete the design of the sidewalk from South Dakota Avenue NE to the existing DDOT/WMATA sidewalk along Galloway Street NE. We do not have a timeline at this point when the design will be completed.” So design of that path appears to be sitting in a black hole somewhere between NPS and DDOT. I remain confused about why all of this seems so hard.

In any case, it is not clear what the timeline is for next steps on the Gallatin-Galloway path or how and when NPS intends to rehabilitate the area where extensive soil has already been removed for construction. But hopefully the unfinished path will not just become an even bigger mud pit than it already was before this project got started.

North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Pedestrian Trail Construction Progress

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, North Michigan PArk, Transportation

By Robert Oliver (Contributor)

Construction activity has begun in earnest on the North Michigan Park-Fort Totten pedestrian trail after being halted in July 2020 due to the discovery of an unexploded ordnance on the trail. After testing the soil and getting negative test results, the National Park Service removed the fencing around the trail last month to resume work.

On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, surveyors surveyed and staked the trail a year after its closure. 

Surveyor team, August 10, 2021. Photo credit: Robert Oliver

On Thursday, August 12, 2021, the Oak Hill construction team arrived to complete the job. Oak Hill is a subcontractor hired by Autumn General Contracting, LLC. Oak Hill’s construction supervisor stated work to complete the pedestrian path connecting Galloway and Gallatin streets NE across Fort Totten Park should take around six weeks. The crew began removing dirt to prepare the site.

Hauling dirt, August 12, 2021. Photo credit: Robert Oliver

  

View of trail construction towards Galloway Street NE, August 12, 2021. Photo credit: Robert Oliver
View of trail construction towards Gallatin Street NE, August 12, 2021. Photo credit: Robert Oliver

Progress on North Michigan Park Pedestrian Path & Met Branch Trail

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, Met Branch Trail, North Michigan PArk, Public Safety

Fort Totten – North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvement Project

After a lengthy delay, construction of a pedestrian path between Gallatin and Galloway Street NE through Fort Totten Park is resuming. This path should be completed in a few months.

View from Galloway Street NE, July 27, 2021. Photo credit: Deborah Grimstead

Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Brookland to Fort Totten Extension

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) publishes weekly progress reports, photos, and other info on the project website at https://www.metbranchtrail-forttotten.com.

View of MBT construction from 1st Place NE near Fort Totten Metro station, July 27, 2021. Photo credit: Deborah Grimstead

CANCELLED-July 29: Summer in the Parks at Fort Circle Park

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park
Electric slidin’ in the park, July 22, 2021

Update 7/29/2021: This event has been cancelled due to weather.

Bring a lawn chair/blanket, make it a picnic. Keep an eye on the weather this Thursday.

From Rock Creek Conservancy

Summer in the Parks

Event Details

WHEN
Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm 

WHERE
Fort Circle Parks at South Dakota Ave NE & Gallatin St NE
Washington, DC, 20017

COST
This is a free event!

CONTACT
Rock Creek Conservancy
(301) 579-3105

Join Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy for Thursday evening Summer in the Parks events in July at Fort Circle Parks in NE DC. Music from DJ Lance Reynolds and themed activities for each night will bring the Rock Creek community together to celebrate our urban oasis and #RecreateResponsibly in our parks.

Register here!

Registration is not required to participate in this event, but will ensure you receive updates and reminders.

July 22: Summer in the Parks at Fort Circle Park

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park

From Rock Creek Conservancy

Summer in the Parks

Event Details

WHEN
Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm 

WHERE
Fort Circle Parks at South Dakota Ave NE & Gallatin St NE
Washington, DC, 20017

COST
This is a free event!

CONTACT
Rock Creek Conservancy
(301) 579-3105

Join Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy for Thursday evening Summer in the Parks events in July at Fort Circle Parks in NE DC. Music from DJ Lance Reynolds and themed activities for each night will bring the Rock Creek community together to celebrate our urban oasis and #RecreateResponsibly in our parks.

Register here!

Registration is not required to participate in this event, but will ensure you receive updates and reminders.

July 15: Summer in the Parks at Fort Circle Park

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park

From Rock Creek Conservancy

Summer in the Parks

Event Details

WHEN
Thursday, July 15, 2021 from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm 

WHERE
Fort Circle Parks at South Dakota Ave NE & Gallatin St NE
Washington, DC, 20017

COST
This is a free event!

CONTACT
Rock Creek Conservancy
(301) 579-3105

Join Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy for Thursday evening Summer in the Parks events in July at Fort Circle Parks in NE DC. Food trucks, music, and family-friendly themed activities for each night will bring the Rock Creek community together to celebrate our urban oasis and #RecreateResponsibly in our parks.

Register here!

Registration is not required to participate in this event, but will ensure you receive updates and reminders.

Thursdays in July: Summer in the Parks

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park

From Rock Creek Conservancy

Summer in the Parks

Event Details

WHEN
Thursday, July 8, 2021 from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm 

WHERE
Fort Circle Parks at South Dakota Ave NE & Gallatin St NE
Washington, DC, 20017

COST
This is a free event!

CONTACT
Rock Creek Conservancy
(301) 579-3105

Join Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy for Thursday evening Summer in the Parks events in July at Fort Circle Parks in NE DC. Food trucks, music, and family-friendly themed activities for each night will bring the Rock Creek community together to celebrate our urban oasis and #RecreateResponsibly in our parks.

Register here!

Registration is not required to participate in this event, but will ensure you receive updates and reminders.

Construction on North Michigan Park-Fort Totten Pedestrian Trail Anticipated to Resume This Month

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park, Transportation

A reader asked for a status update on construction of a formal pedestrian trail between Gallatin Street NE and Galloway Street NE that will provide better access for North Michigan Park residents to the Fort Totten Metro station. I confirmed with the National Park Service (NPS) that construction will resume sometime this month in July. Trail construction began at the beginning of July 2020, but was halted just a few weeks later after the construction crew found an unexploded ordnance. Construction has been halted and the area closed off since then in order for NPS to conduct soil testing and figure out next steps to make sure it was safe to continue building the trail.

NPS previously communicated to a couple of residents in May 2021 that construction will begin again in July 2021. I confirmed with NPS yesterday June 30 that they still anticipate a July timeframe to resume construction. NPS stated in an email to me yesterday, “Yes, the trail construction is scheduled to restart later next month and the negative test results is allowing us to continue the work.”

I know that NPS has been giving various dates for resuming construction for a while now, but I think this July timeframe is the most realistic timeframe they have provided so far. So hopefully, residents will in fact see construction of the trail begin again soon.

And also a quick update on a separate, but nearby project, which is the sidewalk that is supposed to be installed on the south side of Galloway between South Dakota Avenue & 4th Street NE. NPS informed me at the end of April 2021, “DDOT just transferred the funding to Federal Highway Administration to complete the design of the sidewalk from South Dakota Avenue NE to the existing DDOT/WMATA sidewalk along Galloway Street NE. We do not have a timeline at this point when the design will be completed.” There have some been some design hiccups with this particular project. I have not followed up with NPS about this issue since that correspondence in April, but my understanding is that their posture is still the same at this point.

POSTPONED-December 2: Congresswoman Norton Quarterly National Park Service Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in Fort Circle Park

Update 11/18/2020: This meeting will be postponed until first quarter 2021

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton will be holding her quarterly meeting with the National Park Service (NPS) on December 2, 2020. This is a good opportunity to ask about issues pertaining to NPS parkland and property in the neighborhood. Email nortonevents@mail.house.gov for the Zoom link. See the press release below.

Norton to Hold Quarterly Community Meeting with the National Park Service and D.C. Residents

Nov 2, 2020 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will hold a virtual community meeting open to all District of Columbia residents with representatives from the National Park Service (NPS) on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Her quarterly community meetings have been popular with her constituents. Virtually all D.C. neighborhood parks are within NPS’s jurisdiction.

“Our parks, allowing us to get fresh air, have been our lifelines during this pandemic. My quarterly meetings have become the most effective way for me to hear from constituents and work to resolve concerns on issues related to parks and federal land that fall under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service,” Norton said. “I look forward to hearing from my constituents.”

To attend, email NortonEvents@mail.house.gov for the Zoom link. The event will be open to the public and to the media.