The National Mall and Memorial Parks is conducting temporary closures in support of Reflecting Pool Lining and Repair that allows the following: closure of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to clean the pool, repair joints, and install lining material. Closure shall occur in the following areas: · Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool; · Sidewalks adjacent to reflecting pool; and · Staging area at the JFK Hockey Fields, including intermittent access from the staging area across otherwise open sidewalks to the Reflecting Pool These closures, which commenced on April 10, 2026, shall remain in effect and continue until June 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Should the work be delayed, the closure period may be extended accordingly pursuant to subsequent record of determination. Conversely, if the work is completed prior to June 10, the closure will be lifted as soon as can be safely accommodated. Closure and detour signs will be posted. The closures will not adversely affect the parks' natural, aesthetic, or cultural values; nor require significant modification to the resource management objections; nor is it of a highly controversial nature. Rather, the work necessitating this closure is meant to address and protect the foregoing by making necessary repairs to the Reflecting Pool and mitigating the need for future repairs through application of a lining. These closures are as limited as possible in geographic and temporal scope while providing for the work on the Reflecting Pool to continue. Accordingly, the National Park Service determines that publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 C.F.R. § l.5(b). This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications. E.g., Picciotto v. United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Lulan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C.); Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F. Supp. 402 (D.D.C. 1994), aff’d in part w/o op. 56 F.3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R.§ 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure will be made through fencing and posting of signs at conspicuous locations in the affected park area. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. §1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request. Kevin Griess Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks 4/2026 |
Last updated: May 19, 2026