CONTENTS ALTERNATIVES — 51 Overview of Alternatives....................................................................................................................................53 Development of Alternatives....................................................................................................................53 Public Involvement and Preliminary Alternatives.........................................................................53 Using Choosing by Advantages to Develop a Preliminary Preferred Alternative.....................53 Range of Alternatives Considered in this Document ...................................................................54 Summary of Best Practices ........................................................................................................................55 Sustainable Sites Initiative ................................................................................................................55 Design Features for Public Use and Maintenance ........................................................................55 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................56 Natural Resources .............................................................................................................................56 Event Management............................................................................................................................56 Public Access......................................................................................................................................56 Visitor Experience.............................................................................................................................57 Operations and Maintenance ..........................................................................................................57 Conservation Zones and User Capacities .......................................................................................................58 Conservation Zones...................................................................................................................................58 Memorials...........................................................................................................................................58 Character Protection.........................................................................................................................60 Multipurpose Areas...........................................................................................................................61 High-Use Areas..................................................................................................................................61 Resource Standards ...................................................................................................................................62 User Capacity..............................................................................................................................................63 Monitoring and Adaptive Management..................................................................................................68 Actions Common to All Alternatives ...............................................................................................................69 National Mall Actions................................................................................................................................69 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................69 Natural Resources .............................................................................................................................70 The Civic Stage: Demonstrations, Special Events, and National Celebrations.........................72 Access and Circulation......................................................................................................................72 Visitor Information, Education, and Enjoyment ..........................................................................72 Visitor Amenities ...............................................................................................................................73 Health, Public Safety, and Security..................................................................................................73 Park Operations .................................................................................................................................73 The Mall ......................................................................................................................................................73 Union Square (1st to 3rd Streets) ....................................................................................................73 The Mall (3rd to 14th Streets)..........................................................................................................74 Washington Monument and Grounds....................................................................................................74 Washington Monument ...................................................................................................................74 Washington Monument Grounds...................................................................................................74 West Potomac Park (North of Independence Avenue)........................................................................75 World War II Memorial....................................................................................................................75 Constitution Gardens........................................................................................................................75 Vietnam Veterans Memorial............................................................................................................75 Lincoln Memorial and Grounds......................................................................................................76 Korean War Veterans Memorial .....................................................................................................77 D.C. War Memorial...........................................................................................................................77 Ash Woods..........................................................................................................................................77 i CONTENTS West Potomac Park (South of Independence Avenue).........................................................................77 Tidal Basin Area .................................................................................................................................77 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial ............................................................................................78 West Potomac Park Riverfront........................................................................................................78 George Mason Memorial .................................................................................................................78 Thomas Jefferson Memorial ............................................................................................................78 The Alternatives..................................................................................................................................................79 The No-Action Alternative — Continue Current Management..........................................................79 National Mall Actions.......................................................................................................................79 The Mall..............................................................................................................................................80 Washington Monument and Grounds ...........................................................................................81 West Potomac Park (North of Independence Avenue) ...............................................................81 West Potomac Park (South of Independence Avenue) ................................................................81 The Preferred Alternative .........................................................................................................................85 National Mall Actions.......................................................................................................................85 The Mall..............................................................................................................................................90 Washington Monument and Grounds ...........................................................................................93 West Potomac Park (North of Independence Avenue) ...............................................................94 West Potomac Park (South of Independence Avenue) ................................................................95 Alternative A — Focus on the Historic Landscape and Education ...................................................101 National Mall Actions.....................................................................................................................101 The Mall............................................................................................................................................103 Washington