News Release

NPS resumes maintenance services in District of Columbia area parks

Date: January 10, 2019
Contact: NCR Communications

WASHINGTON— The National Park Service (NPS) announced today that it will resume trash collection, urgent roadwork and sanitation services at its parks within the District of Columbia starting on Friday, January 11. Some of these services had been donated by park partners since the start of the lapse of appropriations in December 22.

NPS will use fee revenue, collected by national parks across the country under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, to provide these basic services in order to ensure ongoing public access, health and safety and to protect park resources Anacostia Park, Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Capitol Hill Parks, Civil War Defenses of Washington, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Georgetown area parks including Georgetown Waterfront Park, Kenilworth Park, Meridian Hill Park, National Mall and Memorial Parks, President’s Park, Rock Creek Park and Suitland Parkway.

During the first 20 days following the lapse in appropriations, the District of Columbia Department of Public Works and several Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across the city collected trash at NPS sites across the District of Columbia.

“We appreciate the generous support of many of our partners, the D.C. government and BIDs across the city who helped us maintain our parks during the lapse in appropriations,” said acting National Capital Regional Director Lisa Mendelson. “National Park Service staff looks forward to continuing the outstanding work of our partners in ensuring that the basic needs for sanitation and maintenance are met in our parks.”

D.C. area national parks remain as accessible as possible during the lapse of appropriations, however some services are limited or unavailable, including visitor centers, ranger talks and programs and emergency services. Visitors should check park websites on nps.gov to confirm the operating status of park sites before they visit. Additional information is available at go.nps.gov/DCparks.

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