Record of Determination for the temporary restriction of access to and public use limit in certain areas of the National Mall and Memorial Parks

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, continuing from the June 25, 2026, Record of Decision (ROD) that enacted a closure of the same area, the National Park Service (NPS) will continue to impose temporary closures to the public of certain designated parklands at the National Mall and Memorial Parks until Monday, August 10, 2026. The need for the closures is the same work that necessitated the June 25, 2026, ROD. These closures are limited temporally and geographically as much as possible while still providing for the safety and security of the resource and to ensure public safety while work is undertaken. Additionally, this closure should be uncontroversial as it is required to safely complete work needed to secure and protect NPS resources. The footprint of the closures has decreased from the June 25, 2026, ROD and the specific locations and duration of these temporary closures are described below and delineated in the map below and further delineated by fencing or other physical barriers on-site (see figure 1 below). The closure will be lifted as soon as it is no longer necessary, restoring access to the public as soon as practicable. Violation is prohibited.

Unless otherwise noted, it is anticipated that USPP personnel will restrict access at the following location and times—all times are local.

Specifically, there will be temporary visitor access restrictions at the following locations:

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The following areas will continue to be closed to visitor access through Monday, August 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., local time (see figure 1). The footprint of the closure area will be reduced upon equipment removal and some areas may reopen before August 10 (see Figure 2).

• The Reflecting Pool
• The walkways adjacent to the Reflecting Pool
• The grass median on the north side of the Reflecting Pool including the walkways adjacent to the pool and the North Elm Walk (i.e., the exterior walkways north of the reflecting pool).
• The grass median on the south side of the Reflecting Pool between the walkways adjacent to the pool and the South Elm Walk (i.e., the exterior walkways south of the reflecting pool).

This closure is necessary due to security and resource protection concerns while work occurs at the Reflecting Pool.

These temporary and partial closures are not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern.” Further, the closures will not adversely affect the parks’ natural, aesthetic or cultural values, are not of a highly controversial nature, and do not require long-term or significant modification in the resource-management objectives of any affected park. Rather, these closures are limited temporally and geographically as much as possible while still providing for the safety and security of the resource and to ensure public safety while work is undertaken (for instance, maintaining access to memorials and restrooms around the reflecting pool wherever possible). Additionally, these closures should be uncontroversial as they are required to safely complete work needed to secure and protect NPS resources. Closures such as these are commonplace when there are safety or security concerns related to visitor access and impacts on resources and while the NPS is performing work with equipment that could pose a hazard to members of the public

Accordingly, the National Park Service determines publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(b). This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures or public use limitations, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications. Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-1715 (D.D.C. August 29, 2002), plaintiff’s emergency motion for injunction pending appeal denied Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02- 5275 (D.C. Cir. September 9, 2002) (per curiam); Picciotto v. United States, No. 992113 (D.D.C. August 6, 1999); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C. September 9, 1994); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C. January 26, 1988); Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F. Supp. 402 (D.D.C. 1994), aff'd in part w/o op. 56 F.3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995), reported in full, 1995 US App. Lexis 15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.7, notice of this temporary and partial closure and public use limit will be made through media advisories, maps, fencing, 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.

/s/ Michael Commisso for
Kevin Griess, Superintendent
National Mall and Memorial Parks
National Capital Region
7/11/2026

Maps

 

Figure 1. Public Closure Area

NPS

 

Figure 2. Reduced Public Closure Area

NPS