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Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth movie poster
and the cover of Time Magazine’s “Global
Warming Survival Guide” to bless the
proposed conversion of the public common
into private real estate. The brochure explains
that the development will be named the
“International Environmental Center” and
will be “a One Planet Community” that “will
transform Poplar Point into a global research
and employment center for environment and
alternative energy.”
Let’s not pretend that green roofs and green
names will negate the tremendous environmental
impacts of this proposed development. The
legislation that allowed transfer of the land
from the Federal government to the District
requires that at least 70 acres of land be kept for
“park purposes,” but commercial development
is certainly not a requirement of the Secretary
of the Interior. A better idea would be for the
Mayor to propose, and City Council to vote for,
simply cleaning up Poplar Point as a first step
in generating commercial development on the
vacant land outside the Park boundary.
To visualize this option, the Earth
Conservation Corps engaged renowned
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landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh
Associates to draw a restored park in line with
the historic Olmsted plan to show that three
million square feet of commercial development
can be built on the vacant commercial land that
now borders the parkland. Yes, we can have it
both ways and at a vastly reduced cost to the
environment, our spirits and our wallets.
Like the previous amusement park and prison
schemes, carving up Poplar Point will require
City Council approval. It will also cost District
taxpayers $200 million to fund “infrastructure
costs.” Polishing the tarnished emerald that is
Poplar Point National Park could start with
the $2.1 million the Department of Interior
has set aside for the purpose. It will also take
courage and leadership. One can only hope
a hero will stand up and fight for our jewel
necklace – Mayor Fenty … Chairman Gray …
Secretary Kempthorne ... Council members ...
Citizens? ... Anyone?
Bob Nixon is the chairman of the Earth Conservation
Corps, a nonprofit that provides hands-on education,
environmental training, professional experience, and
leadership skills for disadvantaged young people.
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