ALTERNATIVES DRAFT NATIONAL MALL PLAN / ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT THE NATIONAL MALL CONTENTS: ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVES...............................................................................................................................49 Overview of Alternatives....................................................................................................................................51 Development of Alternatives....................................................................................................................51 Public Involvement and Preliminary Alternatives.........................................................................51 Using Choosing by Advantages to Develop a Preliminary Preferred Alternative.....................51 Range of Alternatives Considered in this Document ...................................................................52 Summary of Best Practices ........................................................................................................................53 Sustainable Sites Initiative ................................................................................................................53 Design Features for Public Use and Maintenance ........................................................................53 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................54 Natural Resources .............................................................................................................................54 Event Management............................................................................................................................54 Public Access......................................................................................................................................54 Visitor Experience.............................................................................................................................55 Operations and Maintenance ..........................................................................................................55 Conservation Zones and User Capacities .......................................................................................................56 Conservation Zones...................................................................................................................................56 Memorials...........................................................................................................................................56 Character Protection.........................................................................................................................58 Multipurpose Areas...........................................................................................................................59 High-Use Areas..................................................................................................................................59 Resource Standards ...................................................................................................................................60 User Capacity..............................................................................................................................................61 Monitoring and Adaptive Management..................................................................................................66 Actions Common to All Alternatives ...............................................................................................................67 National Mall Actions................................................................................................................................67 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................67 Natural Resources .............................................................................................................................68 The Civic Stage: Demonstrations, Special Events, and National Celebrations.........................70 Access and Circulation......................................................................................................................70 Visitor Information, Education, and Enjoyment ..........................................................................70 Visitor Amenities ...............................................................................................................................71 Health, Public Safety, and Security..................................................................................................71 Park Operations .................................................................................................................................71 The Mall ......................................................................................................................................................71 Union Square (1st to 3rd Streets) ....................................................................................................71 The Mall (3rd to 14th Streets)..........................................................................................................72 Washington Monument and Grounds....................................................................................................72 Washington Monument ...................................................................................................................72 Washington Monument Grounds...................................................................................................72 West Potomac Park (North of Independence Avenue)........................................................................73 World War II Memorial....................................................................................................................73 Constitution Gardens........................................................................................................................73 Vietnam Veterans Memorial............................................................................................................73 Lincoln Memorial and Grounds......................................................................................................74 Korean War Veterans Memorial .....................................................................................................75 D.C. War Memorial...........................................................................................................................75 Ash Woods..........................................................................................................................................75 i CONTENTS West Potomac Park (South of Independence Avenue).........................................................................75 Tidal Basin Area .................................................................................................................................75 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial ............................................................................................76 West Potomac Park Riverfront........................................................................................................76 George Mason Memorial .................................................................................................................76 Thomas Jefferson Memorial ............................................................................................................76 The Alternatives..................................................................................................................................................77 The No-Action Alternative — Continue Current Management..........................................................77 National Mall Actions.......................................................................................................................77 The Mall..............................................................................................................................................78 Washington Monument and Grounds ...........................................................................................79 West Potomac Park (North of Independence Avenue) ...............................................................79 West Potomac Park (South of Independence Avenue) ................................................................79 The Preferred Alternative .........................................................................................................................83 National Mall Actions.......................................................................................................................83 The Mall..............................................................................................................................................88 Washington Monument and Grounds ...........................................................................................91 West Potomac Park (North of Independence Avenue) ...............................................................91 West Potomac Park (South of Independence Avenue) ................................................................93 Alternative A — Focus on the Historic Landscape and Education .....................................................97 National Mall Actions.......................................................................................................................97