2021 Partnerships Report

Members of the Golden Triangle BID pose with NAMA Superintendent Jeff Reinbold and Park Ranger Catherine Cilfone in front of the "Love Hate" art installation at Farragut Square, November 9th, 2021

Golden Triangle BID

National Mall and Memorial Parks celebrated an incredible 2021 thanks to partners, volunteers, and staff and despite the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. NAMA partners provided more than $40 million in philanthropic contributions and volunteer service to advance the mission of preservation and education at the National Mall. The US World War One Centennial Commission and the Doughboy Foundation raised over $30,000,000 for the design and construction of the new National World War I Memorial which opened on the National Mall April 2021. Follow this link to view a list of NAMA partners.

Total Contributions = more than $40 million

I continue to be impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of our NAMA family--staff, volunteers and partners-- through challenging times. While the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact our community throughout 2021, NAMA partners and volunteers remained committed to the stewardship of our national treasures. Thanks to NAMA partners, we opened the new National World War I Memorial, rehabilitated and enhanced Franklin Square Park, oversaw the events surrounding the 59th Presidential Inauguration, expanded our volunteer program, engaged students and visitors virtually and in person, and more. This report celebrates the many partner and volunteer activities that help connect local, national, and international audiences to the places we treasure at National Mall and Memorial Parks. We extend our gratitude for your hard work, your invaluable contributions, and your ongoing commitment to partnership with the National Park Service.

Thank you for your support.
Jeffrey P. Reinbold, Superintendent

National Mall and Memorial Parks staff and volunteers pose for a photo during Hains Point Community Day 2021

Lisa Fratteroli

Restoration of Park Resources

Partners contributed over $24 million to support the restoration and beautification of park resources.

• The City of Washington DC, Department of Parks and Recreation along with the DC Department of General Services, invested $20 million for the revitalization of Franklin Square Park. The District collaborated with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID) who oversaw the rehabilitation and enhancements at Franklin Square Park, a focal point for community engagement in the District. The Park boasts a future restaurant pavilion, a restored fountain plaza, children’s play area, and other improvements that support community engagement and active outdoor events.
• Park staff worked with the Department of Transportation and the District of Columbia to design and complete a new bicycle track along the section of 15^th street that dissects the National Mall. Cyclists are already enjoying the enhanced secure bike lane.
• NPS is working with the Rubenstein Foundation and the National Park Foundation on the design and construction of the Lincoln Memorial undercroft and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. These projects will enhance interpretation and visitor services.
• The Trust for the National Mall is raising funds for and managing the restoration of the US Park Police horse stables and the German American Friendship Garden; both will re-open in 2022.

Franklin Square Park restoration was the DC BID Momentum Awards Landmark Development Project of the Year--a collaboration of NPS, Downtown DC BID, and the District of Columbia.

NPS

Preservation and Beautification

While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact our community, the mission of preservation and beautification hasn’t changed. National Mall and Memorial Parks still relies on partner and volunteer support to help maintain landscapes in an around the National Mall. Community and Business Improvement District (BID) partners beautify landscapes, remove debris and weeds, support special events, and much more. Approximately $2.7 million was invested by park partners in 2021 to maintain and beautify park lands beyond the National Mall corridor. Partners that maintain landscapes and provide special events at parks include:

• The Trust for the National Mall
• Downtown DC BID
• Golden Triangle BID
• Southwest BID
• Market Square Columbia REIT
• Boston Properties
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Southwest Business Improvement District staff meet with National Mall park rangers to identify areas of work for an upcoming volunteer service day.

NPS

Programming

National Mall and Memorial Parks and our partners are committed to offering on-site and in-person programming as well as virtual programming. While some in person programming was offered in 2021, we were not yet back to full pre-Covid-19 programming. NAMA staff and partners continue to conduct activities and programs that serve a world-wide virtual audience. Partners invested more than $7.9 million in 2021 to engage audiences.

• NAMA Education Specialists conducted 55 in-person programs and 247 virtual programs reaching over 11,700 students and learners.
• The National Symphony Orchestra Association delivered Memorial Day and Independence Day programs virtually but were able to conduct a live performance from the REACH at the Kennedy Center for the 2021 Labor Day concert.
• Ford’s Theatre Society continued with virtual and guided tours and field trips and virtual play readings. However, they also delivered three live performances including the highly acclaimed play “Come from Away” from the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool area.
• The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, The Trust for the National Mall, Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets, Live It Learn It, Capital Concerts, Inc., and others delivered virtual or in-person education or other programming during 2021.
• Our major park partner, The Trust for the National Mall, supports both a “BloomCam” and “MonumentCam” that operates throughout the year to bring images of the Mall, as well as the status of the cherry trees, to millions of viewers.
• The Golden Triangle BID collaborated with artist Mia Florentine Weiss, the European Union Delegation, and the Embassy of Germany to bring the popular Love Hate public art project to Farragut Square.

Members of the Come From Away company performed in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The concert at the Lincoln Memorial marked the return of live performance for Ford’s Theatre for the first time since March 2020.

Ford's Theater Society

Ceremonies and Commemorations

Partners invested over $430,000 to help us honor and commemorate special people and special occasions during 2021. We hosted in-person commemorations at multiple memorials with multiple partners on multiple days at the National Mall. All ceremonies were live streamed or posted shortly after the event by our partners for virtual audiences.

• Numerous commemorations were held for Veteran’s Day 2021; NAMA partners and staff participated in ceremonies at the World War II Memorial, The World War I Memorial, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Vietnam Women’s Memorial, The Korean War Veterans Memorial, the African American Civil War Memorial and finishing the day back at the WWI Memorial with the playing of taps.
• There were also ceremonies for President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, D-Day, Labor Day, Pearl Harbor Day, and the inauguration of a new president of the United States.
• The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund held the 2021 Candlelight Vigil at the Memorial and delivered it virtually to honor police officers killed in the line of duty.

Two volunteers relocate the Yellow Hat memorial wreath, presented by National Mall volunteers on Memorial Day 2021.

Dan Arant

Volunteers-In-Parks

Volunteers continue to play a role in the stewardship of National Mall and Memorial Parks. This year, the volunteer program built on the success of the launch of volunteering opportunities at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial and have laid the groundwork on creating opportunities at the African American Civil War Memorial. Collectively, individual and group volunteers contributed 7,800 hours to various activities in 2021 at National Mall and Memorial Parks.

National Mall Volunteers, 2021

Bill Shugarts

Memorials

• In 2021 National Mall and Memorial Parks celebrated the transformation of Pershing Park into the National World War I Memorial. The centennial of World War I provided a reminder of the thousands of US soldiers sacrificed during this world-wide conflict. The World War I Centennial Commission and the Doughboy Foundation supervised the work at the National World War I Memorial and raised over $30 million, to match federal funds, for its construction. The formal dedication of the National World War I Memorial will take place when the final primary commemorative sculpture is completed in 2024.
• The Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation started the construction of the Wall of Remembrance in 2021; look for its completion and dedication July 2022.
• In 2022, The Lincoln Memorial commemorates 100 years since its dedication. Check out the NAMA calendar for Lincoln commemorative programming beginning May 2022. Learn how partner contributions support the Lincoln Memorial restoration and development of the Lincoln undercroft into a new visitor experience in next year’s annual report.

Theo Mayer from the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission/Doughboy Foundation demonstrates virtual interpretation functions on an iPad for volunteers at the newly redesigned World War I Memorial also known as Pershing Square.

NPS