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City leaders have decided not to fix Klingle Road in the District, leaving it impassable near Connecticut Avenue.

For those residents looking forward to taking a short-cut through the District, the news is disappointing.

But for David Wenninger, who walks his two friends Hazel and Stella here regularly, he wants Klingle to remain the a road not taken.

"A lot of people just come into the neighborhood and enjoy, and it's a safe place for dogs to come out and enjoy themselves here in the middle of the city," said Wenninger.

Today the D.C. council voted overwhelmingly to deny funding for the repair of the road to the consternation of member Jim Graham.

"I would never suggest building a road in this park if there hadn't been one there, but the fact of the matter is that for more than a hundred years people in D.C. have used this roadway," said Graham.

Klingle carried traffic from Graham's part of town east of Rock Creek Park under Connecticut to Wisconsin Avenue. A nice little short cut, still favored by many.

"I would like it reopened to traffic, why, because it would decongest Connecticut Avenue and all the side streets," said resident Joumana Freund.

But in 1991, a storm washed out part of the road and a cash strapped D.C. government closed it until it had money to make the repairs, but by then many were fighting to keep it closed.

"We've got too many already. The more roads you have, the faster the drivers go," said resident Lynne Martin.

Klingle is in Ward Three, whose council member Mary Cheh's against reopening, and today she prevailed.

"I'm delighted. I think we did the right thing," said Cheh. "Even people who now think they want it open, will be grateful we saved this special part of Rock Creek Park."

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