Photo by bensonkua on Flickr.

They control the parks, but won’t tell you which

Lydia DePillis analyzes the oft-asked question of whether the National Park Service should turn some small local parks over to DC. Besides plenty of anecdotes about NPS being extremely slow to cooperate with anyone, an NPS spokesperson refuses to let DePillis even take a picture of a map showing which parks NPS controls. Why? (Housing Complex, David Alpert)  (Tip: David Alpert)  

Rosslyn boathouse may happen

The Park Service is willing to study potential sites near Rosslyn for the long-sought boathouse. But it’ll take a while. Even the EIS won’t finish until the end of 2011. (ARLnow, Gavin)  (Tip: Gavin)  

The savage Mall

Monument Wars author Kirk Savage discusses the Mall and its “inhospitable” features in an interview in Smithsonian Magazine.  

Please help pedestrians at RI Ave

Life on the Edgewood implores neighbors to contact CM Thomas to make pedestrian access to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station better while the area is under construction. (Geoff H.)  (Tip: Geoff H.)  

Will Mayor Gray kill Smart Growth?

The Georgetown Voice looks at this question on many people’s minds, and interviews David (who says no).  

Wireless streetcars from Japan

Japanese manufacturer Kinkisharyo has its sights set on US markets with an ADA & Buy America compliant streetcar to debut in 2010.  With mention of “wireless battery power propulsion designed in” and a paint scheme conspicuously similar to DC’s, it’s almost painfully obvious who the target is. (Steve)  (Tip: Steve)  

Pentagon Metro won’t be so bad

Metro announced changes to pedestrian traffic patterns around the Pentagon transit center. Fortunately, the changes won’t inconvenience riders as much as the original plans. (WMATA, Examiner)  

Using trees to slow traffic

One UK village planted trees in the shape of a funnel, increasingly close together and closer to the road, to create a visual illusion that encourages drivers to slow down. So far, it’s working. (Nudge)