The government shutdown and the national park next door

The Soapstone Valley Trail entrance at Windom Place on October 2nd. During a previous shutdown, in 2013, the National Park Service posted signs at trail entrances.

In case you did not know, many Rock Creek Park facilities are closed, and services such as trash pickup are suspended for the shutdown’s duration. That means the Rock Creek Nature Center and Peirce Mill are not welcoming visitors, and Friends of Peirce Mill does not yet know whether its Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair will be held as scheduled on October 18th.

However, most Rock Creek Park trails and roads are open, according to an emailed update this week from Rock Creek Conservancy executive director Dan Puskar. And Angela Kramer, the executive director of Friends of Peirce Mill, writes, “the Friends will continue working to preserve and interpret Washington’s last working gristmill. And we’ll continue to support our friends in the National Park Service.”

Here are their messages in full:

Rock Creek Conservancy’s Dan Puskar

I know that you love Rock Creek Park and may be wondering about the impact of the shutdown.

Rock Creek Park will be feeling the effects of this government shutdown at every level, from visitor services to scientific research to natural resource protection. The park experiences high levels of visitation in October and, during this shutdown, will have no staff on duty to handle trash, to prevent damage to grounds and habitat by visitors who go off trail, or provide updated safety information.

There are a lot of nuances, so we’ve broken it down into some of the most Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I access Rock Creek Park during this government shutdown?

The trails and roads of Rock Creek Park will largely remain open. The Nature Center and Peirce Mill will close, though the tennis center, horse center, boat houses, and golf course will remain open as they are leased or operating under a concession contract. Comfort station restrooms associated with picnic groves, Meridian Hill, and Montrose Park will remain open. Trash will no longer be removed and garbage will likely pile up.

If you’re heading into the park during the shutdown, recreate responsibly. Pack in everything you need, pack out everything you bring, obey all signage, stay on marked trails, and tread with care.

Rock Creek Park is not allowed to update its website during the shutdown. Nor is it expected to frequently update its social media channels with new information.

Can Rock Creek Conservancy continue its programs in the park during this government shutdown?

The Conservancy will continue conducting many of its people-powered restoration and volunteer programs. We welcome your continued participation in the important Weed Wrangle, invasive species removals, and litter cleanups—just be sure to sign up as a volunteer with us! You can find current information about these opportunities here.

Unfortunately, the Conservancy will be required to halt significant, transformative work during this shutdown. We will be unable to address safety hazards near park trails by felling dead trees or engage professional landscapers to remove invasive fauna that are too difficult, or located in places too dangerous, for volunteers to work. We are eager to get those programs underway again the moment this shutdown ends.

What can I do to help?

There are a lot of ways you can help Washington, DC’s national park get through this shutdown!

• Donate! Every government shutdown has led to unexpected wear and tear on national parks and new challenges. Your support will help the Conservancy be nimble as we help the park tackle these obstacles.
• Volunteer to help maintain park resources and then recover from the shutdown once the park reopens. Your stewardship makes a huge impact.
• Spread the word to help keep people updated about the situation. We’ll be posting regularly on our Instagram and Facebook and encourage you to share those messages with your networks.

Thank you for being a part of our Rock Creek Community,

Dan Puskar
Executive Director
Rock Creek Conservancy

Friends of Peirce Mill’s Angela Kramer

October usually brings cooler air, vibrant foliage, and lots of visitors to Peirce Mill. But sadly, this October brings news of a lapse in appropriations. We recently learned that Peirce Mill will be closed during the federal government shutdown.

We don’t know yet how the shutdown will impact the Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair, scheduled for Saturday, October 18, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. We’ll be sure to send out updates when we can.

Please know that even though the mill is closed, the Friends will continue working to preserve and interpret Washington’s last working gristmill. And we’ll continue to support our friends in the National Park Service.

Since it became a part of Rock Creek Park in 1892, people have come to Peirce Mill to learn about DC’s past. Whenever the building is closed, we miss those conversations with visitors from near and far.

We could not tell Peirce Mill’s many stories without our dedicated volunteers. So I’d also like to share some good news: In the last 12 months, Peirce Mill’s interpretive volunteers spent more than 1,200 hours giving free tours, cleaning up cornmeal, and showing kids how the quern works. You’ll find photographs below of some of our hardworking volunteers in action.

When Peirce Mill reopens, our volunteers will be there to greet visitors and give tours. But in this challenging time for our national parks, we also rely on the support of our members and friends. If you’d like to help, please consider making a donation.

As a special thank you to our members, we’re hosting a Whiskey Tasting and Talk with Mt. Pleasant Club Whiskey on Saturday, November 8. We hope to see you there!

Looking forward to reopening the mill,

Angela
Friends of Peirce Mill