|
The National Park Service is closing Reservation 30 to help provide security and ensure public safety during the World Bank-IMF 2021 fall meetings. From 9:00 pm, Monday, October 11 until 3:00 pm, on Friday, October 15, 2021, Reservation 30, located south of Pennsylvania Avenue between 19th and 18th Streets, will be closed. This park closure is similar to that which occurred during the World Bank-IMF Fall 2019 meetings. Reservation 30 closure is necessary to provide for security and public safety for World Bank-IMF 2021 fall meetings which will occur just across the street. This closure comes at the request of the United States Secret Service, in coordination with the United States Park Police, to ensure necessary security and public safety. The District of Columbia will also be closing adjacent public sidewalks and streets under their jurisdiction surrounding the World Bank-IMF buildings. Given security concerns and the experience from past demonstrations, lesser restrictive measures will not suffice. Other Federal parks near the World Bank and IMF that are located outside the security area, including Monroe Park, McPherson and Farragut Squares, are planned to be open to the public and demonstrations. Other areas under District of Columbia jurisdiction will also open. This temporary and partial closure does not constitute an impairment to park resources and values and is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern. Further, this closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic or cultural values and is not of a highly controversial nature. Accordingly, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(b), publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted. This is consistent with hundreds of past partial and temporary park closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and past judicial adjudications. See Picciotto v. United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87 3290 (D.D.C.); Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F.Supp. 402 (D.D.C. 1994). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure will be made though media advisories, maps, and by posting at conspicuous locations in the affected park areas. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request. Jeffrey P. Reinbold, Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks October 6, 2021 |
Last updated: October 7, 2021