Four Mile Run Workshop Results Breakout Group #2

Four Mile Run Workshop Results

Breakout Group #2; Facilitated/ recorded by Glenn Eugster

Question 1.  What do you value about Four Mile Run?

• Wildness, especially above Columbia Pike
• In the past kids used to play in the stream
• Access is a value
• Variety of bird and plant life
• Transportation corridor for non-motorized vehicles
• Cultural value--picnics, family gatherings.  It brings people together to interact
• Outdoor space for people who don't have backyards.  An extension of living space
• Variety.  Variety of streamside conditions makes it interesting
• Preservation of open space through deeds
• Habitat
• Downstream water quality protection
• Just plain fun!

Question 2.  What are the problems and issues that concern you about Four Mile Run?

• Pollution--local and downstream impacts.  It's not fishable and swimmable.
• You can't get down to the creek anymore
• Rocks and boulders make the stream area unsafe
• Odor is a problem in Arlington Ridge, Glebe Road, along Arlington-side in the parks, sludge management at the sewer treatment plant
• Trash, bottles, cans that accumulate and stay.  Constant occurrences of grocery carts.
• Safety--mugging people
• There isn't natural habitat because of the current flood control approach
• User conflicts between bikes, play fields, natural habitat and stream buffer
• Conflict between beavers and stromwater management--the beaver appears to be gone
• Guys drinking beer, trashing the place and urinating
• Homeless people live in the game preserve
• Cultural differences in the way we use open space

Question 3.  What are the short-term and long-term ways to conserve, protect, restore, use and enjoy Four Mile Run?

A. Short-term Actions

Trash Management (3 votes)

Enforcement of all littering and as punishment have the litter clean-up their own messes; Treat them to treat the place as their own; Have signs stating the rules for littering and treatment of others; Lower Four Mile Run--Arlington uses prison laborers to cut shrubs.  Use that labor to clean out the trash; add more trash containers 

Usability, Accessibility, Safety & Dog Exercise Areas (3 votes)

Add picnic tables; play area with slide or merry-go-round and access to water; Include dog exercise areas and lights on bike paths; Improve access for all people, including handicapped; provide facilities--toilets, safety phones, lighting, call boxes

Vegetation & Habitat Restoration and Management (3 votes)

Lower Four Mile Run--Encourage native plant growth along lower Run; plant/ restore grasses at river edge; more trees, understory and shrubs around ballfields; around sewer plant Maximize protected buffer areas (Arlington County Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance revisions) (4 votes)

Strategies to Reduce Runoff & Change Impervious Cover (1 vote)

Design parking lots to minimize impervious surfaces (i.e. Netherlands blocks and grass); use compost toilets 

Outreach, Education, Community Involvement, Immigrant Community Projects, Friends Groups 

Make the Four Mile Run Study results Available to Everyone 

B. Long-term Actions

Long-term Public Outreach and Community Involvement--involve public schools and churches  (6 votes)

Technical Fixes to Stormwater Management (5 votes)

Explore and implement technical options to pollution problem and stormwater runoff including: street sweeping; cleaning storm debris; bacteria activation in storm sewers

Architectural Covenants to set Guidelines and Rules (2 votes)

Taxpayers have to be willing to pay to preserve parks (1 vote)

Put money (county, state, federal, private) where mouth is.  Support is needed for changes; Taxpayers must be willing to pay for this (1 vote)

Habitat Development & Maintenance (1 vote)

Land Use Management to Reduce Sprawl & Impervious Surfaces (1 vote)

Monitor of Overuse and Manage Trade-offs among Users

Monitor for overuse?  How will we be able to tell if area 

is saturated with uses?  Love it to death? Develop more and continuous outreach programs to minorities in multiple languages