facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
As a result of this consultation, a programmatic agreement will be sought that identifies
future review requirements and mitigation to be employed during project development.
Future design would consider ways to minimize impacts to the cultural landscape.
Projects under Alternative B that could have an adverse effect to cultural landscapes
include:
Creation of new larger multi-species exhibit areas;
Revitalization of entrances at Connecticut Avenue and Harvard Street Bridge/
Beach Drive;
Transportation improvements including construction of two traffic circles and the
separation of visitor and service vehicle traffic; and
Construction of a new administrative, support, and operations hub.
The creation of new larger, multi-species exhibit areas will physically impact the cultural
landscape components of the National Zoo. New exhibit spaces may cause changes to the
land use and activities, patterns of spatial organization, and circulation networks of the
National Zoo. New construction would also introduce new visual features to the
viewshed.
The rehabilitation of older exhibits would impact the cultural landscape by altering a
portion of the existing circulation pattern and a design feature. The Beaver Valley
exhibits and walkways could remove the eastern part of the Valley Trail alignment. The
alignment dates from the early twentieth century and was included in Frederick Law
Olmsted’s plan for the National Zoo as “Missouri Valley.” Olmsted designed this portion
of the trail using the existing topography to enhance the visitor experience. While the
remaining historic alignment of the Valley Trail will be retained, access to the Valley
Trail will be limited to service vehicles.
Other transportation improvements that would impact the cultural landscape, especially
North Road, through Alternative A’s comprehensive traffic and parking management
strategy include the construction of two traffic circles and a limited-use turn lane on
North Road at the Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive entrance. The traffic circle would
physically and visually impact the Open Lawn. Visual impacts will be minimized through
existing vegetation. The traffic circles will also alter the alignment of the southern portion
of the historic North Road alignment.
The expansion of the General Services Building on North Road would have visual
impacts to the character-defining cultural landscape of the National Zoo.
In summary, Alternative A would have minor to moderate long term adverse impacts to
the National Zoo through the proposed new construction as it would physically and
visually impact several character defining features of the cultural landscape including the
land uses and activities, spatial organization, circulation networks, small-scale features,
and the designed response to the natural environment.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 65 | P a g e