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Linnean Park now has signs, because a park volunteer and advocate “thought it was time”

John Burwell, with one of the new Linnean Park signs. (photo by Marlene Berlin)

by John Burwell

When I and some like-minded neighbors adopted Linnean Park last summer, our goals went beyond improving the park for health of flora, fauna and enjoyment by visitors. We have been lobbying the Department of Parks and Recreation to consider installing an official identifying sign at each entrance, similar to those erected at other DC parks. So far, without success.

Linnean Park has been a District of Columbia property since the National Park Service transferred ownership on December 14th, 1972. And it has gone by other names. For decades, it was known by kids growing up in the neighborhood as “the ditch” or “the woods,” and shown on maps as “Linnean Playground.” The Park Service called it “Reservation 625.” But it wasn’t much of a park until a contractor working under the Department of Energy and the Environment restored the stream and installed a walking path in 2014.

To my knowledge, there has never been a sign at Linnean Park, and people walking through the park have asked me, “Where am I?” and “Who controls this property?” Even a nearby resident, who has been here for more than 50 years, did not know the park had a name.

Well, I thought it was time, and took it upon myself to research and create a sign that would enlighten, illuminate, educate, inform and entertain visitors. The signs include information on the park’s namesake and recognition of the DOEE stream restoration in 2014.

The image is mostly text. It reads: Linnean Park has been “adopted" by volunteers through Dept. of Parks and Recreation 'Adopt-a-Park' Program. Restoration of the trail, native species planting, and protection and invasive plant control efforts, are ongoing.Stream Restoration Effort in Linnean Park Improves Broad Branch TributaryThe Linnean Park stream was an impaired, un-named tributary of Broad Branch, which empties into Rock Creek. Stormwater runoff entering Linnean Park stream caused streambed and streambank erosion, exposing a sanitary sewer line that potentially contributed to diminished water quality conditions.DC's Department of Energy and Environment used a regenerative stream channel (RSC) approach to stream restoration encouraging groundwater recharge, reconnect the stream to its floodplain, reduce scour from stormwater and treat stormwater pollution.Stream restoration took place in 2014, restoring 900 linear ft. of the stream. The project's design features a "bubbler" device that slowly "leaks" stormwater from 25 acres to groundwater and into shallow pools, open-channel, and sand-seepage filtering systems that use a series of shallow aquatic pools, riffle weir grade controls, native riparian vegetation, and an underlying sand channel to treat and safely detain stormwater flow, creating the opportunity for a new wildlife environment.Carl Linnaeus 1707-1778 Carolus LinnæusSwedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalized binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming plants and animals - a system we still use today. Each species of plant and animal is given a genus name followed by a specific name (species), with both names being in Latin. He is known as the "Father of Modern Taxonomy."He journeyed through Sweden to find and classify plants, animals and minerals. He was one of the most acclaimed scientists in Europe at the time of his death.In botany and zoology, the abbreviation L. is used to indicate Linnaeus as the authority for a species' name. Linnaeus was both popular and influential as a professor and scientist. A charismatic teacher, he surrounded himself with students, the most gifted of whom he sent on voyages of exploration. His "apostles," as he called them, crossed continents in order to bring back new plants and animals, which he would name according to his new binomial system of nomenclature.He was also a pioneer in the study of ecology, as one of the first to describe relationships between living things and their environments. By grouping living things into defined hierarchies and giving them individual names we create order which allows us more easily to study the seemingly chaotic world of nature.Linnaeus' most famous scientific name is probably the name he gave humans, Homo sapiens. Homo is the genus that includes modern humans and closely-related species. Linnaeus did two things that changed our understanding of humans: He decided man was an animal like any other, and put Homo sapiens in the animal kingdom, alongside other animals. This paved the way for Darwin's theory of evolution a century later. Linnaeus named over 12,000 species of plants and animals and published books using his new system of classification. His two most famous books, Species Plantarum (1st edition, 1753) and Systema Naturae (10th edition, 1758), are still used by scientists as the basis for naming plants and animals.

The signs have been installed at the two entrances to Linnean Park: Broad Branch Terrace and Fessenden Street, and Broad Branch Road and Harrison Street. (Click the image to view a larger version)

I have also displayed a woodland birds poster using photography from Forest Hills resident, David Cohen.

Images and names of birds you might find in Linnean Park, including blue jay, barred owl, and Carolina wren.

On display with the Linnean Park signs. (Click the image to view a larger version)

He and I have collaborated on multiple posters highlighting wildlife found here and in Rock Creek Park and will display those and others throughout the year. See more of Cohen’s wildlife photography on Instagram: @davidcohenphotodc.

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Comments

  1. How wonderful! Thank you, John Burwell. I loved reading about Linnaeus and look forward to visiting the park soon.

  3. I am one of those people who just recently found the location of Linnean Park, and it’s all because your work. The careful work at the park, and the excellent signs are great. Thank you both!

    And thank you, Forest Hills Connection, too.

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