What future* would you prefer for
Dumbarton Oaks Park?

The Park, as it is, just as it is.
Choice 1 and NPS could cut the grass occasionally.
Choice 2 and NPS could maintain the stream and dams.
Choice 3 and NPS might build a retaining pond to reduce damage to dams and stream bed of heavy rains.
Choice 4 and NPS plantation and maintenance of shrubs, flowers etc requiring control of dogs and joggers and bicyclists.
Choice 5 and NPS strict enforcement of requirement that dogs be on lease, runners stay on path, horses go around etc., in other words, full time NPS presence.



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 * The 'future' of Dumbarton Oaks Park for the purposes of this poll is described in terms of the level of control of uses and users that the National Park Service will likely demand as the level of investment in restoration of the Park increases.

In the past, in the early 1940's, before the second world war, after the initial attempt at the development of a joint plan between the Bliss family and the NPS, the Park was placed in category of maintenance that essentially allowed it to return to a natural state under the terms of NPS guidelines for urban park preservation, the only users were dog owners because the Park was considered to be dangerous for casual walkers. Even today, the Park is still remote and off the beaten path. The presence of dogs off the lease provides a measure of comfort to users although dogs may be unseen.

But if the Park is restored to a pristine state of a semi-private park then there will be a tendency to restrict uses and users. The current state and a higher state of restoration each have merits and risks.

So this poll is phrased with the increasing level of control in mind.