National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Rock Creek Park Rapids Bridge in fall
view map
text size: largest larger normal
printer friendly
Rock Creek Park
News Releases
 

Traffic Advisory

Thursday, February 2, 2012
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bill Line, Toni Braxton, 202-619-7400

Rock Creek Parkway Road Construction continues:

PEPCO will continue electrical work at the light poles in the northbound and southbound lanes. Expect daily lane closures during non-rush hours.

The general public is also directed to contact the Federal Highway Administration's Eastern Lands Division via its website at http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/traffic-rock-creek-parkway.aspx or by calling 1-800-892-8776 and press #3 for construction information.

Weekend Road Closures within Rock Creek Park
Sections of Beach Drive from Broad Branch Road to Military Road and from picnic grove -10 to Wise Road and from West Beach Drive to the D.C. line, Bingham Drive and Sherill Drive are closed on Saturdays and Sundays (7:00 a.m. Saturday to 7:00 p.m. Sunday), and Federal holidays for bikers, rollerbladers, hikers and joggers.

 

Office of Communications               News Release

Release Date: Monday, August 22, 2011
Bill Line/Toni Braxton 202-619-7400

Civil War Trading Cards Engage Younger Visitors with Civil War History

Washington, DC - National Park Service brings Civil War history to trading cards! To commemoratethe 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the National Park Service (NPS) has created a Civil War Trading Card program.  There are 189 collectible trading cards that can be obtained from 23 National Parks located in the Northeast and the National Capital Regions (NCR). These trading cards are geared toward younger visitors, but can appeal and are offered to all visitors, as long as every visitor who receives a card "earns" a card. The cards are free and collectors can travel to all the sites to collect the complete set.
more...

 

Office of Communications News Release

Release Date: January, 28, 2011
For Immediate Release
Bill Line, Toni Braxton 202 619-7400

National Park Service names Tara D. Morrison as new Superintendent of Rock Creek Park

Washington, D.C. – National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region Director Peggy O'Dell announces the selection of Tara D. Morrison as the new Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, located entirely in the District of Columbia.  Morrison begins her new assignment March 13, 2011 and replaces former Acting Superintendent Cynthia Cox, who retains her position as Deputy Superintendent, Rock Creek Park.

 "It is my pleasure to announce Tara Morrison's appointment as the new Superintendent of Rock Creek Park," said O'Dell. "Tara's more than a dozen years experience in the NPS in a variety of different urban settings makes her an excellent choice to lead this park. She has a proven ability to work with partner organizations and community groups in previous assignments and I believe Tara will do the same for Rock Creek Park."    

Morrison comes to Rock Creek Park from the position of Superintendent of the NPS' African Burial Ground National Monument in lower Manhattan, a site where free and enslaved Africans and African Americans were buried in a 6.6-acre site. Morrison held that position from August 2006 until now.  Morrison provided leadership for the development of interpretive media for the first African Burial Ground Visitor Center as well as managed a $2 million budget and a $5.2 million project-funded Visitor Center.  She is credited with strategically working with staff and the public during the development of the park's first General Management Plan process to ensure public understanding of and public engagement in the process.

Prior to her position as Superintendent, Morrison served for about two and one-half years as Management Assistant at the NPS' Northeast Regional Office, leading the African Burial Assistance Project, coordinating communication with various NPS offices, the General Services Administration and the public regarding the development of a memorial and Interpretive Center at the Monument, including construction and curation of project collections.

 Before the African Burial Ground National Monument positions, Morrison served as Acting Assistant Superintendent at the NPS' Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ, where she reviewed and assisted in developing park-specific project requests, budget prioritization and recommendations for revision.  

Adding prior Washington experience to her resume, Morrison served as Special Assistant to the Deputy NPS Director in 2005 where she tracked and coordinated information requests from Congress, the Interior Department, the NPS Office of Management and Budget examiner and other NPS Washington staff.

Morrison began her NPS career in 1998 as a Park Ranger at NPS' Boston African American National Historic Site. Morrison joined the NPS' National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program as the NPS' Northeast Region Coordinator where she provided advice, subject matter expertise, and technical matter support toward the implementation of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act.    

 "I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve in this position," Morrison said. "Rock Creek Park provides visitors of all ages with a wide array of recreation as well as cultural and natural resources in a setting of natural beauty directly in the middle of a major urban area.

I look forward to working with Rock Creek Park's dedicated staff, volunteers and partners who are committed to serving our visitors, who are invested in the stewardship of our natural and cultural resources, and who are engaged in providing meaningful and memorable experiences to those who visit a truly scenic national park located within short distances of the White House and Capitol Hill."   

 Morrison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, graduating in 1994. Morrison earned a Graduate Certificate in Museum Management in 1997 and completed all coursework required for a Master of Science degree in Anthropology, both from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, SC. 

 As Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, Morrison will oversee an FY 2011 budget of approximately $10.2 million and will manage approximately 72 permanent and seasonal and summer employees.   

 

-NPS-

 

Office of Communications News Release

Release Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Bill Line, Toni Braxton (202) 619-7400

National Park Service Proposing to Increase Hourly Rates for Parking Meters at Thompson Boat Center

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to increase the hourly rates for the parking meters located in the parking lot of Thompson's Boat Center, from $0.75 per hour to $2.00 per hour. This NPS parking lot is located at the intersection of Virginia Avenue, NW and the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway.

If you wish to comment on this proposal you may submit electronically, by mail, or fax. The NPS will accept comments on the proposed increase through October 18, 2011.

The increase is based on a comparability review of the rates charged for similar public services in the area. This review indicates the rates for the nearby similar services have increased, and as a result we are proposing to increase the parking meter rates to remain comparable with the neighboring public services.

As is the current practice, the revenue generated will contribute to reducing the maintenance backlog and enhancing visitor services throughout Rock Creek Park.

Written comments may be submitted electronically at the at the NPS's Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rocr. (The NPS preferred method of receiving comments.)

Written comments may also be mailed to:
Superintendent - Rock Creek Park
Attn: COMMENTS: Parking Meter Comments
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Mailed comments must be postmarked by October 18, 2011

Comments may also be faxed to:
Attn: COMMENTS: Parking Meter Comments
Fax 202-895-6015

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask the NPS in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, the NPS cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.

If you require additional information, please contact Rita Gunther at the NPS at (202) 254-2468.
Thank you for your interest and participation in this process.
-NPS-

You are exiting the National Park Service website

Thank you for visiting our site.

You will now be redirected to:

We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable.

Last Updated: February 03, 2012 at 08:38 MST