The ban was put in place years ago due to security concerns in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton says it is time for the prohibition to end.
“Americans should be able to sled on America’s front lawn,” Norton wrote to Larkin.
Norton said there are few open areas in the city for sledding and that during the past week Capitol police officers have turned away children who hoped to make use of the Capitol’s snow-covered, sloping west front.
“I understand that there may be reasonable limits placed on sledding, but an absolute ban on sledding in the little snow the District has on the grounds of the People’s House and the Senate is unseemly and unnecessary,” Norton wrote.
Here is the text of the letter:
Sledding on U.S. Capitol Grounds is one of the oldest traditions in the nation’s capital. Although I understand that sledding has been banned for years, what I do not understand is why the U.S. Capitol Police have recently decided to enforce this Scrooge-like ban. Because the Capitol Police Board issues the regulations, I am reaching out directly to the board to request that sledding be permitted on U.S. Capitol Grounds.
The District of Columbia received enough snowfall to bring out sledding children and their parents last week. Left to enforce the ban for no good reason, some U.S. Capitol Police turned away families invoking security. Because of high-residential density, there are few places to sled in the city, and the grounds of the U.S. Capitol — the Hill — provide a perfect sledding venue. The sledding ban appears to be arbitrary. There is so little snow here that there will not be frequent sledding and, therefore, no significant damage to Capitol Grounds. Moreover, the public is not barred from walking or playing games on the grounds. I understand that there may be reasonable limits placed on sledding, but an absolute ban on sledding in the little snow the District has on the grounds of the People’s House and the Senate is unseemly and unnecessary.
Americans should be able to sled on “America’s front lawn.” I am asking that the Capitol Police Board remove the ban on sledding from Capitol Police Regulations. Please respond concerning your review of this issue within 30 days.
Eleanor Holmes Norton
