Record of Determination for Temporary Closure of Greenbelt Park to Address July 12th Storm Damage

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. §1.5, the National Park Service (NPS) is temporarily closing Greenbelt Park from Thursday, July 14th, 2022, through Friday, July 29th, 2022, to address storm damage that occurred on July 12th, 2022. The park’s closure will necessitate the removal of campers and visitors within the park, as well as the temporary suspension of camping reservations (via Recreation.gov) until July 29th, 2022. Campers currently on site will not be charged for any days beyond the closure date and future reservation holders will be notified of the closure. The NPS is taking action to remediate extensive tree damage throughout the park and the need for maintenance personnel and contractors to safely remove trees without risking serious injury to park visitors.

This closure prohibits all vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic in Greenbelt Park. The temporary closure is necessary for the safety of park visitors, NPS employees, and contracted crews while the work is performed. Less restrictive measures will not suffice in ensuring protection of the public, workers, and park resources. Although the NPS anticipates that the park will be reopened after July 29th, 2022, Greenbelt Park will remain closed until such time that all storm related work has been completed.

This temporary and partial closure is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern.” Other nearby park areas will remain open to the public. The closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic, or cultural values; nor require significant modification to the resource management objectives; nor is it of a highly controversial nature. Accordingly, the NPS determines that publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register, is unwarranted per 36 C.F.R. § l.5(c). This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications that have upheld other National Park Service closures and public use limitations to include Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F. Supp. 402 (D.D.C.1994) affd in part w/o op. 56 F. 3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995), reported in full, 1995 US App. Lexis 15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995); ANSWER Coalition v. Norton, No. 02-1715 (D.D.C. August 22, 2002), plaintiff's emergency motion for appeal for injunction pending appealed denied Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-5275 (D.C. Cir. September 9, 2002) (per curium); Picciotto v. United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C. August 6, 2000); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); and Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87- 3290 (D.D.C. December 7, 1987).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R.§ 1.7, notice of this temporary closure will be made through media advisories and the park’s website and posting of signs at strategic locations in the affected park area. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request.

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Tara D. Morrison

Superintendent, National Capital Parks - East

July 13, 2022
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