Save the Nature Centers

The County Manager’s fiscal year 2023 budget (July 2022 to June 2023) to be approved by the Board in early April proposes to cut the hours of Gulf Branch and Long Branch Nature Centers from pre-pandemic level of six days a week, to three days a week – slashing in half the hours the centers are open to the public. (For more detailed information on the Parks and Recreation budget proposals see or earlier post.)

As the President of Friends of Gulf Branch Nature Center, Duke Banks, points out, nature centers provide essential facilities like exhibits and restrooms, and serve as a physical focal point that “makes nature accessible to everyone.”

Friends of Gulf Branch Nature Center offers a sample letter (below) to the County Board urging that nature centers remain accessible to the public six days a week. We support the Friends and hope you will too! Please write to the County Board (by April 1 if possible!)!

The time of Covid underscores the value of nature for our physical and mental health. One essential way residents - young and old alike - connect with nature is through visits to our two nature centers: Gulf Branch and Long Branch.

Thanks for all you do for trees!

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Please send an email to the County Board at countyboard@arlingtonva.us and County Manager at countymanager@aringtonva.us. Tell them how important it is to keep our nature centers accessible to the public and how disappointed you are by the proposed cuts to the nature centers’ public hours. Use the template below to cut and paste or customize your own message:

Dear Chair Cristol and members of the County Board,

 Please reject the proposed budget’s plan to cut our nature centers’ public hours from 6 days down to just 3 days per week. Our nature centers anchor not only programming but also provide essential facilities like exhibits, restrooms and shelter (during storms) that make nature accessible to everyone, young or old, rich or poor.

Given Arlington’s increasing urbanization, we need more access to nature, not less. Getting back to normal after a punishing pandemic must include restoring the public’s access to Arlington’s nature centers. Please provide the necessary funding to maintain the pre-pandemic 6-days-a-week level of service.

 Thank you for your time and consideration.

 Sincerely,