Poison Ivy along Mount Vernon Trail?

[creadinger]

@AFHokie 122213 wrote:

On Saturday a guy was trimming back at least one of the bushes along the MVT around the airport. Since he was wearing running shorts & a t-shirt with neither an NPS or contract landscape company vehicle in site I’m assuming it was likely a guerilla pruning.

I didn’t realize how bad it was until it was trimmed back recently, but the Mt. Vernon – 4 Mile Run intersection had terrible sight lines until recently. Significant safety hazard for people bearing left onto 4 Mile Run from MVT. If it was a guerilla pruning I’ll gladly buy the person a beer for helping out.

I noticed the bushes encroaching the trail just south of the train bridge over the Potomac were also pruned back a lot.

[AFHokie]

I would too. It’s stupid that what he did may or may not have been legal. It makes me wonder if NPS would or could be held negligent if a collision occurred because they failed to maintain open sightlines?

[chris_s]

@AFHokie 122213 wrote:

On Saturday a guy was trimming back at least one of the bushes along the MVT around the airport. Since he was wearing running shorts & a t-shirt with neither an NPS or contract landscape company vehicle in site I’m assuming it was likely a guerilla pruning.

I’m increasingly convinced that more guerrilla pruning takes place on the MVT than sanctioned pruning.

[DrP]

On my Sunday ride to Mount Vernon I did notice that the poison ivy growing over the trail near the power station was cut way back. I am not sure about the airport location, but it looked better there too (slightly not paying attention to greenery as I passed). So, either they were very quick on the response, others cut it back, or they found it on their own. In anycase, the trail is safer there now.

[Author]

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