NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview The White House and President’s Park Washington, D.C. Contact Information For more information about The White House and President’s Park Foundation Document, contact:
[email protected] or (202)208-1631 or write to: President’s Park, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, D.C. 20242 Purpose The purpose of the PRESIDENT’S PARK is to: • Preserve the cultural resources of the White House—its architecture, artifacts, landscape design, gardens and grounds, and the surrounding parklands—in ways that foster and preserve dignity and respect for the office of the presidency, while still allowing for their use. • Provide a dignified transition area from an urban environment to the White House environs. • Interpret the history and significance of the presidency, the White House, and President’s Park, including their relationship to the American public, our republican form of government, and the growth of Washington, D.C. • Preserve existing historic memorials as examples of memorial art. • Provide a large open area associated with the White House for freedom of public expression and assembly activities, as well as for public use and enjoyment. The purpose statements are reprinted from the Comprehensive Design Plan for the White House and • Protect and enhance views to and from the President’s Park (2000). White House and provide a setting for viewing the White House. • Preserve Lafayette Park as open public space in The purpose of THE WHITE HOUSE is to: the foreground of the White House, as a setting for passive activities (reflecting, observing, • Provide a residence that offers privacy, making a personal connection with the protection, and recreational opportunities for presidency), First Amendment activities within the first family.