Check us out in the Arlington Community Foundation’s 6th Annual Nonprofit Wish Catalog. We're seeking $5,000 to replace seven aging and damaged picnic tables along the Mount Vernon Trail. These tables provide much-needed rest stops and gathering spaces for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Many of the existing tables are over two decades old, with cracked boards and rusted frames that limit accessibility and comfort.

Your donation will fund new, durable, and ADA-compliant tables made from sustainable materials, ensuring they last for years while reducing maintenance needs. With your support, trail visitors will have safe, welcoming places to pause and enjoy the beauty of the Potomac River.

Donate here.

As part of Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail strategic planning we are conducting a visioning survey. The Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail will use your responses to develop a 5-, 10-, and 15-year vision for the trail. Take this short survey here and help us prioritize the future of the trail.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking public input on the Langston Boulevard STARS study. The study proposes multiple improvements that affect accessibility and pedestrian/cyclist activity, access, and safety along the mile nearest the Mount Vernon and Custis Trails. The VDOT study team released preliminary concepts to address concerns identified through an earlier period of public comment. We encourage you to give your input by clicking completing this online feedback form by December 4th. You can rate each of the six intersections on a scale of 1 (unsatisfied) to 5 (excellent). We are satisfied with the proposals and will be rating all intersections with a 5.

In particular, we are excited about the final intersection- Route 29 at North Lynn Street / I-66 Ramps- frequently referred to as the "Intersection of Doom". Please feel free to express your enthusiasm about the major change regarding right-turns off of I-66. Cars will no longer be allowed to turn while the trail crossing/crosswalk (connecting Mount Vernon and Custis trails) is enabled. This is a huge improvement that will improve use of the area. 

In November we hosted 6 volunteer events with 298 volunteers giving 639 volunteer hours. This is the highest number of volunteers in one month we have ever had.

A highlight from this month was the Mega Trash Bash with Potomac Conservancy, Four Mile Run Conservatory, District Cleanups, and NOVA Cleanups. Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail had 128 volunteers collect 2,456 lbs of trash. Collectively the Mega Trash Bash had 283 volunteers collect 4,219 lbs of trash. That isn’t bad for 2 hours of work!

Improving sightlines helps trail users safely see around corners. Below is a sightline improvement near Dyke Marsh. Before you could not see around the corner and now you can. You can check out more before/after photos here and donate to help us keep tools in the hands of volunteers.

December 6

Cheer us on at the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade we will be throwing out candy donated by Bunch Bike

December 7

Netherlands Carillon Winter Festival (1pm-5pm)

December 13

Vegetation Trimming and Trail Edging near Old Stone Bridge

December 20

Alexandria Alternative Trail Cleanup

December 27

Invasive species removal near Trollheim Bridge/Theodore Roosevelt Island

January 1 (Thursday)

New Year’s Day- Trash Cleanup at Belle Haven Park

January 10

Invasive Vegetation Cleanup South of Dyke Marsh

January 19 (Monday)

MLK Day of Service: Invasive vegetation removal near National Landing

January 24

Vegetation Removal South of Four Mile Run

January 31

Vegetation Trimming and English Ivy Removal North of Memorial Bridge