BARC Director Says 'We'll Meet You Halfway' on Gate

After suddenly reducing access to its grounds via the Research Road gate, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) met with Greenbelt City Council on Monday, with a stance that appeared kinder, gentler.

Joe Spence, BARC area director, announced his intention to work toward a compromise, under which Greenbelt bicyclists and pedestrians could once again use Research Road to access BARC grounds during daylight hours and on weekends.

But Spence wanted some things in exchange — one being that any new opening did not look like someone had cut a hole through the fence with wire cutters.

It turned out it was that roughshod look which had caused the fence to be closed up in the first place. A fact that surfaced after Mayor Judith “J” Davis pressed BARC, asking, “What council would like to know is, why, now, did you close that access up?”

The answer was not about vandalism or crime, as some citizens had suspected.

“It was an eyesore,” Spence declared, adding that the inspiration for change struck when a high level visitor had planned to drop by BARC sometime around June. 

Davis talked about how these actions had offended citizens, who were friends of the research center.  “When you closed it off completely, it was sort of a slap in the face, like we were being trespassers,” she said. 

Council member Rodney Roberts agreed, calling BARC’s actions way overboard. He made reference to an email he saw that had threatened to arrest people who went through the fence. “This is like kicking the people who are your friends,” he declared, pointing out those people had supported BARC for years.

Speaking from the audience, Benjamin Skolnik tag-teamed on Robert's remarks. He said the issue was so near and dear to his heart that he had come out on his mother’s birthday. He recalled how his father had told him back in the Reagan years, when some wanted to sell pieces of BARC — Greenbelt had been a great advocate for the research center.

Skolnik said he had that same drive to protect BARC and suggested instead of posting signs to keep Greenbelters off its land, BARC put up signs to cultivate Greenbelt’s action on behalf of its property. Signs could ask citizens to report suspicious behavior, he thought.

Dan Thessen, BARC area security officer, seemed to appreciate the aid Greenbelters could offer. He told council that when it came to vulnerabilities on BARC, “We treasure the eyes and ears of the Greenbelt residents.” 

Greenbelter Tom Simon backed this up, saying he’s been cycling on BARC since around 1976 and had indeed reported suspicious things.

Unconvinced that allowing Greenbelters access posed a serious threat, Greenbelter Bob Zugby offered the following observation, “The only incident that I have ever witnessed that was perhaps of a danger on that property was an assault on my wife at the bridge over Beaverdam Creek — by what I assume were three of your turkeys.”

After the laughter finished rippling through the room, more Greenbelters got up to speak.

Mark Christal shared how much he, his wife and members of Beaverdam Creek Watershed Watch Group had done to help BARC out. Among other things, they had pitched in with regular trash cleanups, pulled tires from inside a creek and participated in tree plantings on BARC property.

Christal called the no trespassing sign on the property nasty and urged BARC to consider posting something closer to what Skolnik had proposed, a sign that invited Greenbelt to report suspicious activity. 

Greenbelter Peter Blank requested that the gate be reopened. He shared that one of the reasons he had moved to Greenbelt was that he wanted to explore BARC on his bicycle. He spoke of the treasury of birds on the property, something he expressed appreciation for, as an employee of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center who studies birds.

After a number of citizens spoke out, Mayor Davis counted roughly 25 hands — when asking who was there specifically for the gate issue.

Compared to the average meeting, it was quite a swell. In reference to the turnout, Greenbelter Katrina Boverman told Patch that when it comes to the green, town folk will show up. “You do not upset Greenbelters about the green," she said.

After hearing citizens out, Spence said, “I agree with many of the comments,” and added that he would seriously consider opening it up. There were some things he wanted in exchange, though — maintaining security being one. That meant keeping automobile access the way it was, according to Spence.

In addition, if BARC creates a new opening, he wants it to look more like a gate. “I don’t want to have an opening in the fence that looked like the last one,” he said. And he wants the gate locked at night after sundown or at a fixed time, but expressed a willingness to open it on weekends.

“If you could meet us halfway, we’ll meet you halfway,” Spence said.

Coming out of the meeting, Greenbelter Velma Kahn was glad for the change in attitude that she perceived in BARC officials. Formerly negative and unreceptive, in her view, now, “They listened and looked everybody in the eye and seemed very open to what we had to say,” she said.