President's Column-- Bird Habitat Giveaway at Ft. Dupont

Every spring, DC birders flock to local hotspots such as Rock Creek Park, Fort Dupont Park, the C&O Canal, and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to watch brilliant Blackburnian and rare Cerulean Warblers migrate through DC. 

That is what makes DC special— it has all the conveniences of a big city while at the same time flourishes with birds and green space.       

The most recent place on the hit list is Fort Dupont Park.  NPS is considering transferring a portion of the park to DC for the purpose of developing recreational facilities.  One of the largest parks in DC, Fort Dupont Park is 376 acres of priority habitat, including hardwood forests, a stream, grasslands, and wetlands.  With trails, community gardens, and sports facilities, the park is well loved by DC residents.    

During the Civil War, Fort Dupont stood guard over the Anacostia Bridge in support of the Union cause.  Runaway slaves also used the fort as a hideout on their route to freedom.  The fort and surrounding forest are now one of several parks collectively known as the Fort Circle Parks, managed by NPS. 

On the chopping block are 15 acres along the park’s northern border on Ely Place for a second ice rink and a youth baseball academy.  The transfer would strip the land of NPS protections while allowing the ice rink operator to cash in on lucrative lease fees from organized hockey teams that pay to practice on the ice rink.  As part of the baseball stadium deal, the Washington Nationals agreed to build a youth baseball academy.  Now they want free land on which to build it— Fort Dupont Park.

Proponents claim that ice hockey will get kids off the street.  But ice hockey will not solve society’s problems.  Ice hockey is an expensive sport, requiring high-priced skates, elbow and shoulder pads, a climate controlled arena and a Zamboni to maintain the ice. 

What about providing green space for children?  What about using the woods as a classroom?  Fort Dupont Park provides valuable green space east of the Anacostia River.     

Fort Dupont Park also supports a globally rare system of mature terrace gravel forest, including hardwood chestnut oak forest.  The WAP identifies hardwood forests as a priority habitat type threatened by recreation, development, and the resulting encroachment of invasive species.  Fort Dupont Park is a rare gem within DC because it is not already overrun by invasive species. 

We commend DC for providing recreational activities for children but we do not need to clear forests for it.  Why not make use of the existing, yet closed, activity center in the park?  Why not use closed school yards or the sites of the abandoned Fort Mahan pool or Fort Stanton recreation building?  Why not use Kenilworth Park South which is slated to transfer from NPS to DC for the purpose of recreation?  As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the land transfer, NPS is required to consider reasonable alternatives to the proposed action but the only action considered is to build in Fort Dupont Park.

This isn’t the first time national parkland has gotten the ax in DC.  Poplar Point, a 110-acre portion of national park along the Anacostia River in southeast DC, is the proposed location for a stadium for the DC United soccer team.  In May 2008, the DC Council announced its intention to authorize DC Mayor Fenty to spend $150 million in public money to subsidize its construction.

DC Councilwoman, Mary Cheh, claims, “I just don’t think we should be an ATM for sporting authorities….” Well put.

The developers, Clark Realty Capital, are required to maintain 70 acres of parkland.  The parkland should be contiguous to the river to serve as a buffer for runoff and the development should be concentrated near transportation, including I-295 and the Anacostia Metro Station.  Right?  Well, the Clark proposal concentrates the 70 acres inland rather than along the river.  

Poplar Point is one of DC’s two nesting locations for the Willow Flycatcher and is an oasis for DC species of greatest conservation need, including Bobolink, Field Sparrow, and Wilson’s Snipe.

What can you do?
National parks are set aside for a reason: to conserve nature, wildlife, and history for future generations.  To achieve this mission for future generations, land cannot be given away or sold whenever a politician wants a new soccer stadium.  National parks are held in the public trust for all Americans not just DC residents.  The proposed transfer would set a dangerous precedent of NPS giving away natural areas for development.  If we don’t take action, our natural heritage will be chipped away until little remains.

Join the DC Audubon Society along with the Maryland Native Plant Society, DC Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, Anacostia Watershed Society, Earth Conservation Corps, and Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States in opposing the transfer of national parkland to DC. 

·        Write a letter to the park superintendent.  Ask her to reject the proposed transfer.  If NPS continues the process of considering the transfer, ask her to follow the Environmental Assessment (EA) with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to more thoroughly examine the impact of development to the environment and to evaluate alternative locations. Comments are due by June 30, 2008. 

Write to:

Superintendent Gayle Hazelwood
National Capital Parks-East
Fort Dupont Park Transfer of Jurisdiction EA
1900 Anacostia Drive, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20020

Email: gayle_hazelwood@nps.gov

Fax: (202) 690-1425

·        Write a letter to Mayor Fenty and your councilperson asking them to oppose the land transfer.    

Write to:

Mayor Adrian Fenty

Executive Office of the Mayor

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Suite 310

Washington, DC 20004

       Telephone: 311