Four Mile Run Workshop Results

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