Politics & Government

BARC Director Has Not Ruled Out a New Gate Opening

A new opening that will allow pedestrians and bicyclists access to BARC grounds during off hours is not off the table.

“I’m not saying anything is off the table,” Joseph Spence, area director for the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) told Patch, addressing the possibility of creating a new opening for pedestrians and bicyclists at the BARC gate on upper Research Road.

In earlier correspondence, on June 17, with Michael McLaughlin, Greenbelt City Manager, Spence had stated point blank, "We cannot modify this gate in order to facilitate access onto federal property by local residents."

He had defended the new gate and the closing up of a narrow opening beside it. Though both actions had reduced access to bicyclists and pedestrians during off hours and weekends, Spence had said that government assets needed to be protected.

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As for the opening, Spence had depicted it as being cut in the chain link fence next to the gate, but not by BARC leadership.

In a subsequent, Oct. 5, 2011, letter, from Greenbelter Velma Kahn to Spence, Kahn said — not so. She recalled a Dec. 10, 1981, Greenbelt News Review article with statements by Paul Putnam, director of BARC when the gate and fence were being constructed.

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She referenced him saying that BARC still welcomed joggers and cyclists, who acted as an additional security force — and saying that it might be possible to incorporate an aperture in the gate that would admit cyclist and joggers but keep out vehicular traffic.

At BARC's Monday, , along with the new gate, council will address other items, including:

  • An update on the MDOT/CSX Intermodal Facility proposal
  • A feasibility study on widening of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
  • ICC mitigation sites on BARC land
  • Future activities at BARC

After a welcome, introductions and an overview of BARC activities, the first issue on the agenda is the Research Road gate. Spence told Patch that he was going with an open mind to hear what council had to say.

Council member Konrad Herling also said he wanted to hear what BARC had to say. Referencing some mischief in the past associated with motorcyclists, Herling said he didn’t think bicyclists were the problem. “I don’t see the bicyclists going around with a six pack of beer,” he said.

They don’t have that kind of interest, he added, saying they wanted to bird watch and enjoy the scenery. Those who walk, bike and jog actually provide another set of eyes to help with security, Herling added, striking a similar chord to Putnam’s initial observation about them.

Spence said that he was somewhat sympathetic to the issues that have been raised by Greenbelters. But an issue that he said he was not aware of was that of employees who bike-commuted to BARC — who had been denied access by the new gate and the elimination of the fence opening.

But he wants to hear what people say at the meeting, Spence added, saying that he will go to listen and see if they can reach common ground.

For his part, Herling said he wanted to see if there was a way for security to be achieved without taking away the opportunity for people to bike, jog, walk and enjoy the scenic view.


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