Photo from Jack McKay.

Zoo listens to us

In response to criticism of closing access from Mount Pleasant, the National Zoo has painted a temporary crosswalk on Beach Drive and is accelerating plans to reopen the Harvard Street bridge. (Mt. Pleasant DC forum)  

Green plan, needs green money

Maryland and federal officials announced a plan to clean up the Anacostia, including rain gardens to absorb runoff from parking lots near the river, restoring woods, grass and marsh along the banks, and more. But nobody has the $1.7 billion to implement the plan. (Post)  

Planning Department veggies

Montgomery Park and Planning is creating a vegetable garden and adding some beehives on its roof to be greener. (The Straight Line) In the comments, Casey Anderson suggests also repurposing the vast surface parking around the building, perhaps as the much-needed Downtown Silver Spring skate park.  

People and things bumping cyclists

Another driver intentionally hit a cyclist on Florida near LeDroit Park. This time the cyclist couldn’t get a plate number. In Vienna, a cyclist confronted a driver who the cyclist says cut him off, but the driver denies it. Finally, a Georgetown University bus hit a cyclist, but the cyclist admits she was at fault and is not seriously injured. (TheWashCycle)  

Rosslyn’s temporary plaza

Rosslyn will get itself some temporary urbanism on a lot at Wilson Blvd and Fort Myer Dr where an office building is delayed. It will become a temporary plaza, with tables, chairs, shade canopies and a stage where the BID will program summer events. (The Triangle)  

The art avenue

You might have seen new sculptures in the median of New York Avenue, NW (and a ghost bike as well). The sculptures are the first phase in a program to add sculptures by different female artists to New York Avenue from 9th to 13th, NW in the next few years. (WBJ)  

X marks the cuts

The Georgia Legislature refused to change an arcane rule requiring MARTA to spend half its money on new projects. As a result, it will likely have to cut 30% of its service. To raise public awareness, MARTA and advocates are working together to mark buses and trains slated for cuts with a giant red “X”. (Creative Loafing, Matt’)  (Tip: Matt')  

Vote in Congress versus home rule

DC leaders are lining up against the voting rights bill that would prohibit the District from deciding its gun laws. Chairman Vince Gray, Mary Cheh, Phil Mendelson, the Post, DC for Democracy, and now Kwame Brown and Yvette Alexander, who originally praised the deal, have all denounced it. (Post, DCist, etc.)