Record of Determination for temporary and partial closure of National Mall and Washington Mounument Grounds for Turf Renovation

The National Mall and Memorial Parks is closing certain parkland on the National Mall for turf maintenance and restoration. Specifically:

• February 7, 2020 to March 31, 2020 for Mall Panels 16, 18, 20, 22, 24
• February 7, 2020 to June 1, 2020 for Raul Wallenberg Field
• February 7, 2020 to June 1, 2020 for 17^th Street Main Central Panel of Washington Monument

This park closure is necessary for the protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as the environmental and scenic values. Less restrictive measures will not suffice as the turf needs to be properly protected from high impact events while dormant and recovering. Warmer winter weather has increased use of the turf panels, particularly by users wearing cleats, which combined with wet conditions, is negatively affecting the dormant turf. The turf will not recover without an extended rest period for restoration and to prevent further damage from occurring.

This temporary and partial closure is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a "significant alteration in the public use pattern”. Indeed, other nearby park areas will remain open to the public. The closure will not adversely affect the park's natural, aesthetic or cultural values; nor require significant modification to the resource management objections; nor is it of a highly controversial nature. Accordingly, the National Park Service determines that publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register, is unwarranted per 36 C.F.R. § l.5(c). This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications.

Picciotto v. United States. No. 99-2113 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C.); Picciotto v. Lulan, 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), affld in part w/o op. 56 F.3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R.§ 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure will be made through fencing and posting of signs at conspicuous locations in the affected park area. 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
2/7/2020