The Fun Never Stops
From the Sun Gazette:
Vienna officials will host a dedication ceremony for the Northside Park Connector Trail on Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. The connector consists of a 125-foot boardwalk-style trail, elevated in sections, and a 50-foot asphalt pathway connecting the W&OD Regional Trail and the Richard Black Bridge to the northeast quadrant of Vienna. In addition to the dedication ceremony, a tree will be planted near the trail, in commemoration of Arbor Day. Northside Park can be reached from Mill Street, N.E., or Glyndon Street, N.E. Parking will be available at the Northside Property Yard, 600 Mill St., N.E. For information, call Vienna Parks and Recreation Department director Cathy Salgado at (703) 255-6356, or e-mail csalgado@viennava.gov.
Following the dedication ceremony all 7 people in attendance will go to the Freeman Store to rest up after planting the big tree. Then they will share stories of Vienna as it was in the 1850s during Maud's youth.
"We have waited years for this dedication. We feel safe with Maud."
Comments
The Northside Park is right behind my house.
There has always been a "connector trail" from the woods to the bike trail. Its not fancy or even paved, and adding a tree really doesnt mean anything because THERE ARE TREES EVERYWHERE back there.
In my eyes, its another waste of money.
Posted by: Minerva | March 29, 2008 07:55 PM
Actually there is a new paved trail (at least for part of the way) now connecting Glyndon Road to the W&OD Trail. It is much better (before you could not bike down the dirt path), and I am happy to have it, but the design could have been much better. The new boardwalk has a very steep slope at the bottom, steeper than the federal recommended max for bike trails even though it didn't have to be as the top of the boardwalk is quite flat, and it narrows instead of widens at the bottom making it very difficult to slow down and make a 90 degree turn to go onto the metal bridge to the W&OD trail. The least they could do now is to widen the trail at the bottom to allow room for someone to turn their bike. The path they paved is narrow and curvy with an unecessary curve right before you have to turn again to go on the boardwalk. I'm glad for the new trail, but just wish they put a little more effort into making it safe for people to use on a bike even if for some reason this would have required one more tree to be cut (which I don't even believe would have been necessary). I don't want people to cut trees unnecessarily, but safety and usability comes first.
Posted by: Biker in NE | March 30, 2008 02:22 PM
Biker, the Mayor and TC do not seem to think of the safety of anyone not in a car. And as usual they did not put much thought into it. Not surprising since I don't think any of them jog or ride a bike on that trail!
Posted by: S.O.S | March 30, 2008 06:27 PM
Cole and jog are words not for the same sentence.
Posted by: Deep Throat | March 30, 2008 08:47 PM
I am familiar with the old trail which was difficult to traverse near the stream. I have only seen a picture of the new trail which seems to be overengineered. A path on either side of the yard fence would have been sufficient. If the path were routed on the yard side it would have required the relocation of the fence.
Posted by: Votech | March 30, 2008 10:32 PM
It is raining but I went to see the connector trail anyway. Looks good but I don't know how many trees were sacrificed. This worries me since the trail was built for the tree huggers on Beulah Road. The ramp off the bridge is steep, and slippery when wet, but the trail itself is just as steep. One glitch that I am sure will be corrected eventually remains.
Posted by: Votech | March 31, 2008 12:30 PM