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GW Parkway: Trails and history round out Virginia commuter route

As pandemic-related restrictions are lifted and more people venture out, the head of the George Washington Memorial Parkway says the Northern Virginia route has a lot to offer.

“Get out for mental health. Get out for wellness. Enjoy the trails. Enjoy the green spaces,” said George Washington Memorial Parkway Superintendent Charles Cuvelier.

The parkway, built in 1930, is nearly 25 miles long and more than a commuter route or way to get to Reagan National Airport.

Whether you head out by car, bike or on foot, Cuvelier said you won’t be disappointed.

The Mount Vernon Trail along the parkway is 18 miles long and takes you from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in Virginia to D.C.

Among the sites to check out along the parkway are Teddy Roosevelt Island, the LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac and the Netherlands Carillon.

“I think the parkway is an opportunity to take a different route, one that is scenic, one that was thoughtful in its design that frames the Potomac River, that frames the Capitol, which can maybe remind us of our high ideals.”

A golf course for ‘the people’ faces a presidential makeover

WASHINGTON (AP) — A pack of cyclists whisked by along the circuit at East Potomac Park while the golf course parking lot filled with luxury SUVs parked next to older, inexpensive economy cars, all with the Washington Monument in the background. The scene highlighted what residents say are the park's best features: its accessibility and affordability right in the nation's capital. The historic park, especially the golf course, has caught the eye of President Donald Trump, who wants to turn it into a world-class golf venue. It's part of his grand vision for Washington, D.C., where he has torn down storied structures, remade or renamed others and deployed the National Guard for more than a year. But some residents fear the planned changes to the golf course — where Trump has visited with a cabinet member, a well-known golf course architect and blueprints — risk altering the character of a place that has served Washingtonians of many stripes for more than a century. Turning the park into an upscale golf course will mean costlier fees and a loss of public space, residents worry.
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