facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Impacts to Visitor Use and Experience
No-Action Alternative
Under the No-Action Alternative, additional exhibit planning would occur on a site-bysite
basis. It is anticipated that visitor use at the Zoo would reach and exceed preexisting
levels of three million visitors, which was the visitation level prior to September 11,
2001. The visitor entries would not be consolidated, and visitors would continue to enter
the National Zoo in up to 13 different locations. As a result, the visitor would not have a
clear sense of arrival and visitor services at the entry points would not be readily
available. An in-park transportation system that would provide relief from the steep
topography would not be implemented and service vehicles would continue to use the
same roads as National Zoo visitors. The visitor experience at the National Zoo would
continue to be adversely affected by not having a clear sense of arrival, lack of visitor
amenities at clearly defined entry points spread evenly throughout the National Zoo, lack
of internal transportation to help mitigate the steep topography, and continued conflicts
between service vehicles and visitors. Therefore, the No-Action Alternative would have
minor adverse long-term impacts to the visitor experience.
Alternative A
Under Alternative A, new exhibits would be added and existing exhibits revitalized.
Parking would be increased, and revitalized entrances, including visitor amenities and
services, would improve the arrival and interpretive experience. Circulation and
navigation throughout the National Zoo would be improved.
Activities most likely to affect visitor use and experience under Alternative A include:
Reclamation of Parking Lots A and B and the Bus Lot for the creation of new
large multi-species exhibit areas,
New Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways;
Renewal of older exhibits;
Revitalization of visitor entrances at Connecticut Avenue, Midpoint entry, and
Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive;
New parking deck structure at current Parking Lot C site and two-story
underground parking structure near the Connecticut Avenue entry; and
Construction of an aerial tram system.
The implementation of Alternative A would renew park infrastructure by reclaiming flat
and gently sloping areas for utilization as exhibit areas. Parking Lots A and B and the
Bus Lot would be reclaimed and older exhibits and flat land areas would be revitalized
for visitor use. The addition of large exhibits in areas with more favorable topography
would have a long-term beneficial impact to the visitor experience.
The new Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways would be designed to separate park
service from visitor circulation through a series of bridges, structures, lifts, and ramps. A
new service drive would separate service vehicles and visitors on Olmstead Walk. This
action would enhance the visitor experience both through new exhibits, and by dedicating
the walkways exclusively to visitor use, without conflicts with service vehicles. The
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