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The Future of the National Mall

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The Future of the National Mall The Future of The National Mall THE NATIONAL MALL CONSERVANCY INITIATIVE www.themallconservancy.org October 2004 This project is sponsored by: The National Coalition to Save Our Mall www.savethemall.org 301-340-3938 NATIONAL MALL CONSERVANCY INITIATIVE Acknowledgement This report is a collaborative effort sponsored by the National Coalition to Save Our Mall. It is the natural progression of our concern for the wise stewardship and future of the National Mall. In our 2002 State of the Mall Report, we drew public attention to threats to the Mall and raised questions about divided management and the future of the Mall. Read the report at www.savethemall.org. This report seeks to answer those questions. The Coalition thanks the citizens and representatives of government agencies who contributed creative ideas to this exploration of how we can ensure a vibrant future for the National Mall. Special appreciation goes to officials from the Central Park Conservancy in New York City, the Golden Gate National Parks, People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the Van Alen Institute who shared their invaluable experiences at the opening public forum in January. We are grateful to the moderators of the workshops who brought their professional expertise and love of the city to the discussions that form the basis of the report’s findings and proposals for action. We also thank George Washington University’s Geography Department, and the Center for Urban Environmental Research, for hosting the public forums; the National Park Service for resource materials that helped inform the participants; interns from GWU whose special materials and maps were used during the workshops; and the National Parks Conservation Association and other groups that provided invaluable advice. This Report, and a full illustrated history of the Mall, is available on the National Mall Conservancy Initiative website, www.themallconservancy.org. Cover photo: © Tom Wachs The National Coalition to Save Our Mall is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) citizens education organization founded in 2000 and supported by contributions from hundreds of citizens from across the country. For more information about the Coalition and about the National Mall Conservancy Initiative, contact: The National Mall Conservancy Initiative c/o The National Coalition to Save Our Mall www.savethemall.org www.themallconservancy.org P.O. Box 4709 Rockville, MD 20849 301-340-3938/ fax 301-340-3947 Table of Contents 1. The Mall – Then and Now 1 2. A Troubled Ground – Sources of the Problem 1 2 3. In Search of a Solution – The Early Workshops 1 4. Rethinking the Problem – Back to the Future 2 5. A National Mall Conservancy Initiative -- Wise Use and Stewardship 4 6. A National Mall Conservancy Initiative – First Steps 4 Appendix 7 Mall Facts at a Glance 9 Synopsis of Public Forum 10 Synopsis of Workshop 1 16 Synopsis of Workshop 2 20 Synopsis of Workshop 3 23 Back Cover: Evolution of the Mall’s Growth NATIONAL MALL CONSERVANCY INITIATIVE 1. The Mall – Then and Now In the two centuries since L'Enfant without controversy. So great is the gave us a plan for the grand concept of demand for this prime real estate, that “public walks” that we call the the very essence of the Mall -- its National Mall, it has become center planned open spaces and public access stage not just for monuments, -- is at risk. Congress has attempted celebrations, and varied public uses, to stem over-building with the but for social movements that have Commemorative Works Act (Public shaped our history. In 1901, Law 99-652) and recent amendments Congress ordered the McMillan to it. But history never stops, and Commission to reaffirm the L’Enfant neither, it seems, does the pressure to vision and to expand the Mall. As the echo that history with new nation grew, so did the Mall. Today, it monuments, museums and visitors has become a metaphor for our centers. Security measures since 9/11 burgeoning democracy, but not have only exacerbated the problem. n 2. A Troubled Ground – Sources of the Problem In 2003, in the wake of the World War management. At least seven II Memorial controversy and separate government agencies have construction of the American Indian jurisdiction over parts of the Mall, Museum on the last officially each with its own agenda and designated museum site, Congress priorities (see Mall Facts at a Glance, issued a moratorium on further p. 7). This divided control is mirrored building, and declared the Mall a in Congress, where oversight is “substantially completed work of civic assigned to various separate art” (Public Law 108-126). At the committees. There is no joint purpose same time it exempted a Vietnam and joint management, and little Memorial Visitor Center. Why this opportunity for meaningful public contradiction? Does our apparent participation or scrutiny of the need for projects and programs to planning process. Even the express our evolving democracy make geographical boundaries of the Mall current policy unworkable? are in dispute. The Mall has many parents, but from a management In truth, there is no overall policy for standpoint, it is an orphan. n the entire Mall, and no coordinated 3. In Search of a Solution -- The Early Workshops Management problems aren’t new to Congress formed the McMillan the Mall. One hundred years ago Commission to rationalize Mall PAGE 1 NATIONAL MALL CONSERVANCY INITIATIVE building policy. Now, new questions forum in January 2004, followed in have arisen. Why did the May by three workshops. Participants controversial siting of the WWII included citizens and students as well Memorial and the NFL’s crass as representatives of the government extravaganza in 2003 stir up such a agencies that share stewardship of the fuss? Who is looking after the Mall. The workshops focused on the physical and cultural health of the visitor experience, monument policy, Mall? Why is it so difficult for security, constituency building, Congress to fulfill its role as steward events, modern usage of this grand of the Mall? space, and more. Their probing, coupled with a reexamination of the In late 2003, a group of informed history of the Mall, led to profound citizens met to address such questions. insights into the problem as well as a The Mall Conservancy Initiative group possible solution. n (organized by the National Coalition to Save Our Mall) hosted a public 4. Rethinking the Problem – Back to the Future What did we learn from the THE MALL AS A VISITOR EXPERIENCE: workshops? Workshop participants found much that they liked about the Mall -- the THE MALL AS A CIVIC EXPERIENCE: beauty of the grand open vistas, the There is a huge gap in the way the profound sense of American identity public perceives the Mall and the way and ideals, the mix of people strolling, it is managed. In the past fifty years, jogging, touring the museums and the public has come to see and use the memorials. What they found missing Mall as more than monuments and – amenities, such as drinking green space. It has finally become fountains, benches, parking, what it was always meant to be – the convenient restrooms, restaurants, people’s place --, where we not only signage, historical text, a visitor celebrate our history but live it. Its center, even a brochure about the Mall vitality comes from the public uses – were so obvious that their lack could that continually revitalize its core only be explained by the divided and message. But this validation of our uncoordinated stewardship of the democracy is threatened. Mall. DC residents felt disconnected Maintenance and security concerns from the Mall which functions more as have begun to take priority over the a tourist destination than as a part of deeper meaning of the Mall. We are the total life of the city. heading toward a kind of “Disneyland” on the Potomac, where tourists move THE MALL AS A SUSTAINABLE from monument to monument by tour ENVIRONMENT: The physical health of bus. If this vision is allowed to the Mall also suffers from divided prevail, America will have lost a great management. While the monuments opportunity. may be well cared for, no agency is taking responsibility for the PAGE 2 NATIONAL MALL CONSERVANCY INITIATIVE sustainability of the Mall as a whole. it, an embodiment of an America yet There are no annual quality to come. assessments of the soil, the health of the trees, the effect of toxic waste. What, then, is the future of the Mall? There is a desperate need for Will the Mall continue to evolve with strategies to meet stresses of overuse, our evolving democracy? How can we to ensure that this fragile ecosystem supplement current preservation can continue to thrive as a vital public policy with proactive policies that space. The National Park Service does support and encourage an even more the best it can, but its jurisdiction is lively, exciting, inspiring Mall? proscribed and there is no dedicated While remaining true to the L’Enfant funding for an indispensable scientific vision, as well as to Congress’ wish to approach to Mall management. put an end to additional monumental THE MALL AS AN IDEA: In declaring a clutter, the Mall can evolve, even moratorium on further construction on grow, in many ways. We need not stop the Mall, Congress rightly put an end history in its tracks. to more buildings and memorials on • We can find new uses for the this hallowed ground. And in Mall. L’Enfant could not have declaring the Mall a “completed work foreseen the AIDS Quilts that of civic art,” Congress recognized the stretched from the Washington need to preserve the historic and Monument to the Capitol, but inspired McMillan design that is the he surely would have approved basis of the Mall as we know it today.
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