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Contact: Tammy Stidham
WASHINGTON – Help shape the future of the Tidal Basin! The National Park Service is developing a Concept Plan and Environmental Assessment to guide the long-term management of the Tidal Basin, focusing on transportation, conservation, tree preservation, protection of natural and cultural resources, visitor experience, recreation, infrastructure, security, and more. Visit the project website at parkplanning.nps.gov/tidalbasinDCP to learn more and share your ideas between Feb. 19 and March 19.The Tidal Basin, created in the 19th century, is both an engineering feat and a key feature of West Potomac Park. Over time, it has become an iconic and cherished public space, known for its cultural and commemorative significance. Each year, an estimated 36 million visitors from around the world visit the National Mall to see the Tidal Basin and its surrounding monuments and memorials. During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, more than 1.5 million people visit to admire the breathtaking blooms of over 1,500 cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin.
However, in recent years, several factors have contributed to wear and tear on the Tidal Basin, including record crowds that visit year-round to enjoy its scenery, monuments, and recreational opportunities. Additionally, growing visitation and rising maintenance costs have left the NPS unable to keep up with necessary repairs. The iconic cherry trees face constant threats from trampled, compacted soil and the twice-daily inundation of brackish water in some areas. This planning effort will provide direction for the long-term management and rehabilitation of the Tidal Basin cultural landscape, based on the National Mall Plan and other related documents.
Join the Conversation
A virtual public scoping meeting to discuss the design of the memorial and answer questions about the project will take place on February 19, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. During the meeting, National Park Service officials will present the design concept and be available for questions. The meeting can be accessed via this link.Comments received will guide the design of the memorial and will be incorporated into an Environmental Assessment that evaluates how any proposed actions would affect the environment and historic features of the site and must be completed before taking any action.
How to Comment
A virtual public scoping meeting to discuss the plan and answer questions will be held on Feb. 19, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. During the meeting, National Park Service officials will present the design concept and be available for questions. The meeting can be accessed via this link. The meeting will be recorded and available on the project website: parkplanning.nps.gov/tidalbasinDCP. If you need reasonable accommodations for the meeting, please contact ncr_lands_and_planning@nps.gov.
Comments
Comments received will guide the design of the memorial and will be incorporated into an Environmental Assessment that evaluates how proposed actions would affect the environment and historic features of the site. This must be completed before any actions are taken.
How to Comment
Comments must be submitted in writing, preferably via an online form on the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website. From the project website (parkplanning.nps.gov/tidalbasinDCP), navigate to the “Open for Comment” menu on the left-hand side and open the “Tidal Basin Development Concept Plan - Public Scoping Design Concept” folder. Click the green “Comment Now” button to access the online form. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via U.S. mail to:
Tammy Stidham
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
ATTN: Tidal Basin DCP
Last updated: February 25, 2025