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National Mall and Memorial Parks

Traveler Special Report: NPS Is Running $670 Million Behind On Caring For Maintained Landscapes

A lack of money, nearly $700 million, has left National Park Service crews are far behind in caring for the maintained landscape of the National Park System, the battlefields, the campgrounds, even the historic orchards that can be found in some parks and the trails that wind through the underground of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Arlington Memorial Bridge Scheduled To Close To All Traffic September 14-17

Weather permitting, all six lanes and both sidewalks of Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., will be closed from 7 p.m. on Friday, September 14, to 5 a.m. on Monday, September 17. Boaters in the Potomac River should approach the bridge with caution and avoid the area near its center span. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will need to use alternative routes to cross the Potomac River.

Proposed National Park Service First Amendment And Special Event Permit Regulations

In an effort to provide clarity to First Amendment demonstrations and special event permit regulations in Washington, D.C., the National Park Service is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 7.96 for the National Mall, President’s Park and other national parks in the Washington, D.C. area. The Park Service says the modifications would maintain opportunities for people to hold special events and exercise their right to demonstrate while outlining clear parameters that protect the iconic landmarks, views and grounds for use and enjoyment of citizens and visitors from around the globe.

What Might The National Park Service's Maintenance Priority List Look Like?

As Congress works in the coming months to reach accord on legislation that would provide billions of dollars to address the National Park System's nearly $12 billion in maintenance work that's been put off for a year or longer, the backlog continues to inch higher and higher. If a funding mechanism is passed, then the National Park Service will have to craft a national priority list of projects that need to be tackled. While that list doesn't exist yet, here's a look at some possible top priorities.

New Beginnings: Cherry Blossoms And Helen Taft's Landscape Diplomacy

Every spring, hundreds of thousands of tourists descend upon the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., during the Cherry Blossom Festival in order to capture images of the monuments framed by delicate blossoms of pink and white. What few of these tourists realize is that this fairy tale setting is the result of the vision First Lady Helen “Nellie” Herron Taft and an action of “landscape diplomacy.”

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