Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Mount Vernon Trail
The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) and the Friends of Mount Vernon Trail recently announced a partnership that will seek to preserve the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail that runs from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Through the partnership, the BID and Friends of Mount Vernon Trail will host clean-up events every Saturday through Jan. 22, and on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
"We are really excited to partner with the National Landing BID to achieve our common goal of making the Mount Vernon Trail a safe and pleasant doorway to National Landing," said Judd Isbell, president, Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail.
"The BID's sponsorship of our 2022 trail improvement events is providing vital support to purchase equipment and supplies for our volunteers," he noted. "We've had over 800 volunteers so far in 2021 and there have been times where we've had more volunteers than tools at our events. Thanks to the support of the BID, our volunteers will be able to do even more to improve the trail in 2022."
Weekly trail improvement events started Dec. 11 at the Crystal City Connector and will also include areas at the 14th Street Bridge Trail and trails south of the Marina Towers. Volunteers will focus on trimming vegetation, removing invasive plants, cleaning and repairing bridges and the trail surface. Before the weekly events wrap up on Jan. 22, the National Landing BID and Friends of Mount Vernon Trail will also host a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17.
“Our wealth of green spaces and access to regional trails like the Mount Vernon Trail which boasts uninterrupted views of the DC skyline and stunning nature preserves, is part of what makes National Landing such an active, vibrant community,” said Tracy Gabriel, president and executive director, National Landing BID. “We are proud to partner with the Friends of Mount Vernon Trail to bring the community together to continue to improve the trail and support its safe use for years to come.”
For more information on volunteer opportunities, please visit: mountvernontrail.eventbrite.com
