Norton Asks for NPS Executive Order to Name Trail in Glover Archbold Park for Rachel Carson
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote to National Park Service (NPS) Director Johnathan Jarvis requesting that he use his administrative authority to name a NPS trail in Glover Archbold Park, which runs from Canal Road to Van Ness Street, the "Rachel Carson Nature Trail." Norton believes that naming the trail for Carson is especially appropriate because in addition to her work as a world-renowned environmental pioneer and inspiration for the environmental movement, Carson's work also has inspired the community surrounding the trail to work to maintain the trail with the Student Conservation Association, which also helps NPS with preservation. Honoring Carson would also pay tribute to her work as a federal employee, and as a writer, editor, and, ultimately, Editor-in-Chief for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service's publications department. In addition, because Carson's concerns about pesticides and other environmental matters have been validated by science, chemical organizations that were once critical of Carson have indicated support for it. This is an important breakthrough, of which the naming of the trail would provide recognition.
Norton, in her letter, wrote, "Naming this trail the "Rachel Carson Nature Trail" would commemorate Ms. Carson for her tireless efforts to make the nation's capital, the United States, and, indeed, the world a better and safer place for all in an especially meaningful way because the idea comes from citizens who not only appreciate Rachel Carson's work, but associate that work with appreciation for our parks and for NPS. It would also ensure that Ms. Carson's contributions, many of which resulted from observations in Glover Archbold Park, will be remembered and treasured for years to come."
Last year, Norton introduced a bill to name the trail for Rachel Carson. Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) is the Senate sponsor of the bill, and it has three House cosponsors – Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulations, Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Keith Ellison (D-MN). Glover Park residents brought the idea to Norton to name the trail for Carson following the 50th anniversary of the publication of her groundbreaking book, Silent Spring. Carson died in April 1964, leaving a rich legacy benefitting present and future generations.
The full text of Norton's letter follows.
February 20, 2014
Dear Director Jarvis:
I write to ask that you use your administrative authority to name the National Park Service (NPS) trail located in the Glover Archbold Park section of the District of Columbia, from Canal Road to Van Ness Street, the "Rachel Carson Nature Trail." The idea to name this trail after Rachel Carson was initiated by residents of the Wesley Heights and Foxhall Village communities who have great appreciation for Rachel Carson's environmental discoveries and for her visits to Glover Archbold Park while doing her work. Resolutions have been passed in support of the proposal to name the Rachel Carson Nature Trail by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D, the Palisades Citizens Association and the Foxhall Community Citizens Association. Unlike traditional requests for naming, residents were specifically inspired that Rachel Carson, an environmental pioneer, conducted observations in Glover Archbold Park. We believe that NPS should be impressed by the community's initiatives to clean and preserve the trail, in addition to its enthusiasm for a great environmentalist. The neighborhood works to tend to the trail with the Student Conservation Association, which will help NPS with preservation. In fact, we would hope that you will use Glover Archbold Park's example of regard for an NPS park to encourage other communities to become more deeply involvement in NPS neighborhood parks, not necessary for naming.
I originally sought support for a bill to redesignate the trail with testimony before National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC). NCMAC did not raise any serious concerns, but asked about information concerning Rachel Carson's work in Glover Archbold Park. The community collected photos of Rachel Carson in the park, including a photo published in the October 12, 1962, issue of Life Magazine showing Rachel Carson and members of the Audubon Naturalists Society on a bird walk through Glover Archbold Park. A question was also raised whether a trail named after Rachel Carson in the District of Columbia would create a sense of confusion with the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail located in Montgomery County, MD. However, it is common to find streets, parks, and commemorative works in the same city throughout the United States named after influential figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, among others. Moreover, this trail is a small trail within Glover Archbold Park, of approximately 2.9 miles, in the nation's capital. We think it would be very difficult to confuse this small trail with the Maryland trail, which will span 25 miles when it is complete.
I understand that NMAC does not need to have further involvement in the naming of the trail in order for the name change to be accomplished. Although we have gained some support, we think that a bill should not be necessary to name a trail within a city park.
Ms. Carson was born on May 27, 1907, on a farm in Springdale, Pennsylvania, graduated magna cum laude with a biology degree from the Pennsylvania College for Women (later Chatham College), and received a full scholarship that enabled her to obtain a master's degree in marine zoology from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Ms. Carson, an environmental pioneer and an inspiration for the development of environmental consciousness, was best known for her groundbreaking book, Silent Spring. September 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring, which has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Notably, chemical organizations that were once critical of Silent Spring have now indicated support for the book and for Rachel Carson's important work. For example, the American Chemical Society's (ACS) members forcefully criticized Silent Spring in the past, but in 2012, ACS awarded Silent Spring "Landmark" status in a public ceremony, and an ACS representative praised Silent Spring for leading to a "paradigm shift of great significance that set the stage for the more sustainable science we practice today." The views of these chemical companies have changed because Ms. Carson's concerns about pesticides and other environmental matters have been validated by science, and have spurred the successful search for environmentally friendly alternatives to pesticides.
The federal government should particularly recognize this world-renowned environmental scientist, who worked as a writer, editor, and, ultimately, Editor-in-Chief for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service's publications department. Ms. Carson accomplished much of her seminal professional work as a federal employee at the U.S. Department of the Interior. She used Glover Archbold Park in the District for observations about nature and the environment. She performed research on the dangers of pesticides, and her findings were sustained by the Science Advisory Committee, created during President John F. Kennedy's administration. As a result, federal and state legislatures enacted pesticide legislation. Her work paved the way for innovative environmental protection legislation throughout the world.
Ms. Carson was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received many other honors. She died on April 14, 1964, in Silver Spring, Maryland, leaving a rich legacy that will continue to benefit present and future generations well beyond the 50th anniversary of Silent Spring.
Naming this trail the "Rachel Carson Nature Trail" would commemorate Ms. Carson for her tireless efforts to make the nation's capital, the United States, and, indeed, the world a better and safer place for all in an especially meaningful way because the idea comes from citizens who not only appreciate Rachel Carson's work, but associate that work with appreciation for our parks and for NPS. It would also ensure that Ms. Carson's contributions, many of which resulted from observations in Glover Archbold Park, will be remembered and treasured for years to come.
Naming this particular trail in Rachel Carson's honor would also be a natural memorial because students at Georgetown University, The George Washington University and American University have already been involved in cleanup activities in Glover Archbold Park. The Student Conservation Association is currently involved in ongoing trail work in Glover Archbold Park. The Oyster Elementary Brownie Troop, for example, has been removing invasive plants along the Glover Archbold Park trail. The Glover Archbold Park Victory Garden is one of the original World War II organic victory gardens. The naming of this trail should also be of significance to NPS since Rachel Carson used Glover Archbold Park as a source for her seminal environmental observations.
I strongly urge you to use your administrative authority to name the NPS trail located in the Glover Archbold Park section of the District of Columbia, from Canal Road to Van Ness Street, the "Rachel Carson Nature Trail."
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton
CC: Steve Whitesell, National Park Service
Peter May, National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission
Published: February 20, 2014