We, the undersigned, submit this petition to request a change in the route of the National Marathon. The route as currently envisioned will have and has had a tremendous negative impact on the residents and businesses of the communities abutting Minnesota Avenue SE between Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Benning Road SE. The current route will close Minnesota Avenue SE between Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Benning Road SE to all vehicular traffic. Minnesota Avenue SE is the only street upon which Metro buses and emergency vehicles can traverse between Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Benning Road SE that serve residents who live between Minnesota Avenue SE and the Anacostia River. For the foregoing reasons, we suggest the following change to the National Marathon route. Runners existing Anacostia Park will proceed eastbound on Pennsylvania Avenue SE to Fort Davis Drive SE. They would then turn left onto Fort Davis Drive SE and proceed into Fort DuPont Park. They would continue on Fort Davis Drive SE until they reach Ridge Road SE. There they will turn left onto Ridge Road SE and proceed to Minnesota Avenue SE. Upon reaching Minnesota Avenue SE they would proceed down the ramp to East Capitol Street and proceed to the finish line. This proposed change allows the National Marathon to proceed as scheduled and provides the added benefit of not land-locking thousands of Ward 7 residents.