Letter
Dear Mr. Brown:
In its meeting of 19 June, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a proposed design for a multi-use trail on the closed segment of Klingle Road between Cortland Place and Porter Street, NW, and for the restoration of the streambed adjacent to the trail. While expressing support for the proposal in general, the Commission did not take an action and requested a revised submission to address its concerns about the character of the design as a linear corridor within a park valley.
The Commission members expressed strong support for the D.C. Department of Transportation's effort to rehabilitate Klingle Valley, including the planning and public engagement to restore the stream and repair the public way for pedestrians and bicyclists. However, they commented that the character of the proposed site furnishings—such as benches, fences, light standards, and trash receptacles—appears to be derived from a standard developed for urban sidewalk conditions rather than for a woodland park setting. They recommended instead a design approach for furnishings that is more compatible with the nearby context of Rock Creek Park; they suggested looking at examples of furnishings in similar parks to find an appropriate expression for the new trail. For the next submission, the Commission requested additional documentation that more clearly shows the details and placement of new elements in relation to the existing and restored features, such as retaining walls and culverts, along the full length of the valley trail. Noting that the trail project will create a new linear landscape within the existing park, they requested the submission of a detailed planting plan to assess the cumulative effect of all the elements within the context.
The Commission looks forward to the review of a final design responding to these comments and encourages the project team and the D.C. Department of Transportation to continue to consult with the Commission staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Matthew Brown, Interim Director
D.C. Department of Transportation
55 M Street, SE, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20003
cc: John Malinowski, Stantec Consulting Services