New BARC Gate Open

Bikers, walkers, runners and nature lovers can once again enjoy the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.

On Thursday, a sign went up on the Research Road gate, which allows pedestrians and bicyclists to walk and ride through BARC once again, but the sign asks they stay on the roadways.

BARC Area Director Joe Spence had told Greenbelters and the Greenbelt City Council that he would do something about the BARC gate on upper Research Road. He came through.

Kathy McCue, executive assistant to Spence, confirmed there was a new gate that she said she's pretty sure they installed yesterday.

The gate sign announced the hours as sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Visitors are asked to remain on the roadways throughout BARC.

 and fielded questions and complaints from residents who had wanted to enjoy BARC but had a hard time getting in under the new gate and were upset about the fence opening being closed.

At that meeting he pledged to try to meet Greenbelt halfway. In less than a month the new gate is in place.