Penrose Projects

The links to these websites and blogs are included to provided for background information, context and "food for thought".  They are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of the Penrose Neighborhood Association.

General Planning Documents

• Penrose Infrastructure Plan - Sidewalks, Streetlights, Parks, etc.
• Neighborhood Conservation Plan

Washington Boulevard Trail

The Washington Boulevard Trail project will include the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian trail along Washington Boulevard that will provide an off-street link of the Arlington Boulevard Trail to Columbia Pike. The trail will link to bicycle and pedestrian facilities being developed along Columbia Pike and in the Pentagon City area, as well as provide a new access way into Towers Park.

• County Project Website
• Penrose 2012 Fall Newsletter (with 2 articles on the trail)
• Penrose Letter Opposing Initial Trail Design
• Urban Forestry Commission Letter to County Board
• Anti-Trail Petition
• Pro-Trail Petition
• Along the Pike Blog Post
• Commuter Page Blog Post
• Patch Blog Post
• Donaldson Run Blog Post

South Courthouse Road Decal Fee Project

A project is in the design stage to upgrade pedestrian, cyclist and transit rider safety along South Courthouse Road between 2nd Street and Columbia Pike.  Design is largely complete and construction is currently schedule for the Summer of 2015.

Design features include:

• ADA Compliant Sidewalk Ramps
• Curb nubs at most intersections to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians.
• Additional marked crosswalks at 4th St, 6th St, and 9th St.
• A southbound bike lane between 6th St and Columbia Pike, sharrows between 2nd and 6th St.
• Northbound sharrows between Columbia Pike and 2nd St

See the project website for updates.

Walter Reed Drive Decal Fee Project

A project is in the design stage to upgrade pedestrian, cyclist and transit rider safety along Walter Reed Drive between 5th St and Columbia Pike.  Project design is still being refined.  Construction has been delayed due to staffing changes.

Preliminary design features include:

• Replacing the painted medians in Walter Reed Drive with raised, planted medians to reduce impermeable surfaces.
• Realigning the intersections of 5th St and 6th St to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians, to encourage drivers to slow down more when turning onto and off of those side streets and to reduce impermeable surfaces.
• ADA Compliant Sidewalk Ramps
• Curb nubs at most intersections to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians.
• Extending the existing bike lanes an additional block to 5th St.
• Realigning the 9th St intersection to reduce confusion, reduce impermeable surfaces and improve the cyclist crossing experience for the 9th St Bike Boulevards Project.

Here are the 60% plans for 5th-8th and 8th-Pike. See the project website for updates.

Butler Holmes Park

Phase II of the reconstruction of Butler Holmes Park has been approved for funding.  The county will be working with the neighborhood on a final design in the coming months. Phase II will re-grade the playing field, add the tot lot and replacing the fencing in the park.

• Final Concept Plan
• Playground Features

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