Record of Determination for a Partial and Temporary Closure and Public Use Limit in the National Mall and Memorial Parks at the Arts of War and Peace Statues

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, beginning on July 2, 2026, at approximately 6:00 a.m. and through September 30, 2026, at approximately 11:59 p.m., the National Park Service is imposing a temporary closure of, and public use limit in, certain designated parklands at the National Mall and Memorial Parks including the Arts of War and Peace statues and its surrounding area. The restricted area is indicated on the enclosed map and includes all Lawn areas and Turf Panels Bounded by Parkway Drive NW, the Watergate Steps, Lincoln Memorial Traffic Circle NW, and the masonry balustrade walls at the Arts of War and Arts of Peace Statues. The public can access the sidewalks adjacent to the lawn and turf areas within the closure, as well as the sidewalks leading onto Memorial Bridge. The closure does not include roadways.

This closure is necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety and protection of natural and cultural resources and to allow for unimpeded construction activity. A contract is underway to complete a project for cleaning and regilding these statues. Less restrictive measures will not suffice. Closure times were established with the least amount of impact on visitors and programming. This closure shall include all turf and sidewalks and all construction activity areas surrounding the Arts of War and Peace statues.

This temporary closure 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 to the public, and the duration will be as limited as possible to enable the work to be completed. If work is completed ahead of schedule, closures for the site will be lifted as soon as safely possible, restoring access to the public as soon as practicable. The lifting of the closures will be noticed to the public.

Although the closure may affect future permitted activities within the project area, it is limited to the time and location necessary to ensure public safety, protect park resources, and facilitate completion of the work. The closure will not adversely affect the park's natural, aesthetic, or cultural values, require a significant modification of resource management objectives, or constitute a highly controversial action. Comparable temporary closures are routinely implemented to support construction and maintenance activities necessary to protect visitors and park resources.

Violation of this closure is prohibited.

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 through pedestrian detour signs, 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.

Enclosure: Map

 

Map of Temporary Closure Area (outlined in red). Closure does not include roadways.