GRFA Reconstruct North Ramp and Entryway and courtyard

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We are pleased to present you with a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Great Falls Park, VA Visitor Center Access Path, Ramp, and Courtyard Rehabilitation. Great Falls Park is a site administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service (NPS). This EA proposes to improve areas around the Visitor Center at Great Falls Park to provide accessibility for individuals with disabilities that meets current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards.

This environmental assessment will analyze the impacts of three proposed actions to the Great Falls Park Visitor Center. These proposed actions are:

1) Redesigning and partially realigning the access path leading from the main parking lot to the Visitor Center north entrance ramp;
2) Modifying the north entrance ramp leading into the Visitor Center; and
3) Resurfacing and making other improvements to the courtyard.

In conjunction with these three actions, the EA will also address deficiencies in storm water drainage that affect the courtyard and access path, the need for providing a drop-off location in the main parking lot, and the installation of minimal lighting along the north ramp and entryway to the Visitor Center.

This EA evaluates multiple alternatives for each of the three primary proposed actions. NPS Preferred Alternative includes:

1)Constructing a permeably-paved accessible access path along the route of the existing path which will lead to both the North Ramp and into the courtyard;
2)Redesigning and adjusting the original North Ramp to make the entire ramp ADA/ABA accessible, with an 8% slope, two intermittent landings, and adding additional accessible railings;
3)Improving the courtyard through resurfacing, installing new storm water drainage systems, and removing vegetative planters to restore the courtyard closer to its original design. This will improve visitor circulation and the views of the Visitor Center.

Contact Information

Written comments may be submitted to: Dottie P. Marshall, Park Superintendent, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia 22101 or emailed to: GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov