Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, the National Park Service will implement a temporary closure of the northbound lane of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW from September 2, 2026 at 6:00am, to September 2, 2026, at 1:00pm. The exact times are subject to change based upon the evolving schedule of the events. Closures and public use restrictions will be delineated in the map below and as further delineated by U.S. Park Police presence, and other physical barriers. Specifically, there will be temporary closure and restricted public access to the northbound lanes of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW, with blockades at the E St on-ramp, at the intersection of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and Parkway Dr NW, which would direct traffic from Ohio Dr SW to Parkway Dr NW, and at the intersection of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and F St NW. The restricted areas are depicted in the enclosed map (Enclosure 1). These temporary closures and restrictions are at the request of The Kennedy Center for the removal of the “Blue” Statue on The Kennedy Center grounds. A crane will occupy the northbound lanes of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway in order to remove the statue. These closures ensures the safety of the crew removing the statue and the public. Less restrictive measures and means are unavailable in the removal of the statue based on its location. This temporary public use limit is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern.” Other nearby park areas will remain open, this closure will not impact any permitted events, and the closure will only last for the time that law enforcement agencies have determined is necessary to provide for public safety and resource protection. Furthermore, the closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic or cultural values and is not of a highly controversial nature, as evidenced by the lack of any requests to utilize the area to be closed. Comparable closures and public use limits are commonplace when necessary to provide for the protection of the park and 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. 99-2113 (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 though 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. Kevin L. Griess /s/ 8/26/2026 Superintendent 
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Last updated: August 31, 2026