A five-mile strip of Beach Drive will be closed to motorized vehicles all year, the National Park Service announced Wednesday.
Only pedestrians and cyclists will be welcome on Beach Drive in the area of Bingham and Sherrill drives. That area will be closed to motorized vehicles from Broad Branch to Joyce Road; from Picnic Area 10 to Wise Road; and from West Beach Drive to the DC/Maryland line.
Joyce Road by picnic areas six through 10 will remain open to cars.
This area is within the Washington, D.C. part of Rock Creek Park.
“Opening this section of Beach Drive to pedestrians and cyclists has provided our community with increased opportunities for healthy recreation, greater access to nature and outdoor enjoyment,” Julia Washburn, Rock Creek Park superintendent, said. “We hope to continue seeing you all on Beach Drive and ask for your help as we work to protect sensitive habitat surrounding the road.”
The park service noted that this decision “prioritizes park access for recreational use.” Also, complete closure to motorized vehicles will make the area safer “by reducing conflicts between people who walk, bicycle and drive. It also expands access for visitors with disabilities to areas of the park that lack separated pathways and accessible trails.”
According to the park service, that section of Beach Drive is a minor road with a small amount of traffic compared to nearby roads.
A concern expressed by the park service is that hikers sometimes cut through the forest, thereby having a negative impact on wildlife and their habitats. Therefore, it plans to develop a visitor use plan and show which trails are unofficial and which are designated trails, which already carry trail blazes.
Today, @RockCreekNPS announced their final decision to permanently open Upper Beach Drive for recreation. We celebrate this historic decision!
Learn more: https://t.co/LWtPBGV4fX pic.twitter.com/TIlR8oVn7V
— Rock Creek Conservancy (@LoveRockCreek) November 2, 2022
