Northwood News ♦ December 2004

Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Extension to Be Considered, Legacy Open Space Program Revived

By Charles Pritchard

In October 2004, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission took two actions that affect the Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park that forms the eastern boundary of our civic association.

First, Park and Planning announced that it would develop a plan to extend the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail from its present northern terminus at Randolph Roadnorth to Patuxent River State Park.  This plan will be offered up to public scrutiny and comment when completed.  We will notify you when we hear more.

Second, a related project is to revive the Legacy Open Space (LOS) program, which has been largely inactive for nearly a year.  Under LOS, Park and Planning would consider several land acquisitions for community use, including a land parcel that would be needed if the Rachel Carson Trail is to be extended via Rachel Carson Conservation Park and Hawlings River.

The Rachel Carson Greenway Trail will remain a natural surface (as opposed to a paved) trail and will retain its interpretive character, which is to preserve as much of the natural environment and habitat as possible in an urban setting.  For this reason, use will be restricted to hiking, observation of nature, and equestrianism.

The LOS program also stresses preservation of natural habitat and existing plant life as well as historical structures and artifacts.   ■