Subject: ACCF Letter to NPS

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004

Attached are the letter and attachment that I faxed on 22 July and mailed on 23 July to the NPS.

Many thanks to the P&R Committee and the Executive Committee.

Regards,

Patrick A. Smaldore Jr.
President

July 22, 2004

Superintendent Audrey F. Calhoun
George Washington Memorial Parkway
C/o Turkey Run Park
McLean, Virginia 22101


Dear Superintendent Calhoun,

I am writing with regard to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared on four possible boathouse sites in Arlington and vicinity.

Arlington County Civic Federation (ACCF) considered the boathouse issue in the 1990s. At that time, attention was focused on building a boathouse on the riverfront opposite Roosevelt Island - now called the Lower Rosslyn Waterfront Site. In 1995, ACCF passed a resolution opposing a boathouse at that site.

ACCF's opposition to the Lower Rosslyn Waterfront Site was reaffirmed in 1998, when we advised Arlington County Board by letter that: "We agree with the National Park Service that there is no overriding public benefit in transforming this 1+ acre plot in the George Washington Memorial Parkway from a natural, wooded open space to a heavily used recreational or commercial building." (A copy of the letter is enclosed.)

We have not changed our position, but we may consider the matter at a meeting later this year.

Recently, attention has been focused on a boathouse at an Upper Rosslyn Waterfront Site (either 1101 Lee Highway, which is wooded, or the nearby VDOT property). A boathouse at any upper Rosslyn site would require construction of a staging area and floating docks on the riverfront. The boathouse would be linked to the staging area and docks by a new bridge over the George Washington Memorial Parkway, ending near the riverfront. As a result, there would still be disturbance of the natural area opposite Roosevelt Island, although less disturbance than a boathouse at the Lower Rosslyn Waterfront Site.

We are less familiar with the 14th Street Bridge Site and Daingerfield Island Site. It appears that a boathouse at the 14th Street Bridge Site would have less environmental impact than at either Rosslyn site. However, we note that the Arlington rowing community does not prefer either the 14th Street Bridge Site or the Daingerfield Island Site, principally for safety reasons.

ACCF will participate actively in the public review of the EIS in the spring and summer of 2005, and we look forward to seeing the evaluation of each boathouse site when the final version of the EIS becomes available.

Yours truly,

Patrick A. Smaldore Jr.
President, Arlington County Civic Federation
3859 North Second Street
Arlington, VA 22203-3803

Attachment

The Federation concluded that there was no justification for insisting on using this site, since others might be made available that are even better for the purpose. We agree with the National Park Service that there is no overriding public benefit in transforming this 1+ acre plot in the George Washington Memorial Parkway from a natural, wooded open space to a heavily used recreational or commercial building.

The Arlington County Civic Federation has been the "Civic Voice of Arlington" for over 80 years. The Federation represents 70 civic associations and community groups in Arlington.

As Congress votes on including this "Boathouse" project in the Interior Department's budget for 1999, you need to be aware that there is widespread and growing disapproval of it among Arlington civic groups. We urge you to vote down this attempt to permanently damage our natural waterfront and one of the Country's most scenic and symbolic memorials.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

William F. Nolden, Jr.
President


cc:
Hon. James P. Moran
Interior Subcommittee, members
Secretary of the Interior
Director, National Park Service
Superintendent, GWMP
Arlington County Board

This page was last revised on: July 25, 2004.