Record of Determination for a Temporary Closure of the Ellipse, E Street, First Division Monument, Sherman Park the White House Sidewalk and a portion of Lafayette Park for the Official Visit of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom

The National Park Service is closing certain parkland around the White House to provide security and ensure the successful implementation of the unique security requirements associated with the official visit to the White House complex by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, on April 28, 2026. Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5, the National Park Service is imposing a temporary closure to the public of the Ellipse and its side panels, roadways and sidewalks, E Street and its sidewalks between 15th-17th Streets, First Division Monument and State Place, Sherman Park, Hamilton Place, the White House Sidewalk and Lafayette Park on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, as delineated in the attached map and as further delineated by fencing. Specifically, from approximately 6:00 a.m. through approximately 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the following park areas will be closed to the public:

1. First Division Park, to include interior sidewalks (the west sidewalk on 17th Street, NW, will remain open to pedestrian traffic);

2. Sherman Park, to include interior sidewalks (the east sidewalk on 15th Street, NW, will remain open to pedestrian traffic);

3. E Street, NW, from 15th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW, to include the sidewalks along the above-mentioned parks, the south fence line of the White House grounds, and the area surrounding the Zero Milestone; and

4. The entire Ellipse, to include the interior sidewalks and roadways (the western sidewalk of 15th Street, NW; the eastern sidewalk of 17th Street, NW, and the northern sidewalk of Constitution Avenue NW will remain open to pedestrians).

***Please note that portions of the White House Sidewalk, between East Executive Avenue, NW and West Executive Avenue, NW, as already communicated through an earlier record of determination and public notice, are already closed due to the unique security requirements associated with the White House construction project. Additionally, most of Lafayette Park as already communicated through an earlier record of determination and public notice, is already closed due to the unique security requirements associated with the Lafayette Park construction project.

The National Park Service is also imposing a public use limitation and will not allow into the event:

• Laptops, Tripods, Monopods, and Selfie Sticks (tablets may be allowed subject to additional screening)
• Large Bags and Suitcases exceeding size restrictions (18” x 13” x 7”)
• Packages
• Drones and other Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Animals other than service/guide dogs
• Bicycles, Scooters, Folding Chairs, Balloons, Coolers, Glass, Thermal or Metal Containers
• Umbrellas (umbrellas without metal tips will be permitted)
• Any pointed object(s), to include knives of any kind
• Aerosols, Paint, Tobacco Products, e-Cigarettes, Lighters, Matches
• Firearms, Ammunition, Fireworks, Laser Pointers, Stun Guns, Tasers, Mace/Pepper Spray, Toy Weapons
• Tents and Structures
• Any Other Items Determined to be Potential Safety Hazards

Violation is prohibited.

As detailed in the Secret Service’s request, which is attached and incorporated by reference, “these temporary restrictions [are to] begin sufficiently in advance of the events on April 28, 2026, to permit Secret Service personnel to secure the area in advance of the arrival of the invited guests,” and that the restrictions be lifted after the conclusion of the event. These temporary restrictions are necessary to provide a secure staging area as well as a secure perimeter with sufficient stand-off distance to protect the President and First Lady of the United States, Their Majesties the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, other government officials, and the invited guests while they participate in the activities on the grounds of the White House. The
temporary closures are also necessary to permit the Secret Service to perform security sweeps of the area, to facilitate security screening of the guests, to facilitate guest arrivals and departures, and to restrict access to the White House grounds. Further, given the nature of these events, the Secret Service has determined that these closures and public use limit are necessary, and thus there are no less restrictive measures that would adequately provide for the safety of the event
attendees, the public, as well as the security of the White House Complex.”

The Secret Service’s letter also advised that the “exact times are subject to change, based upon the evolving schedule of the events; however, the Secret Service will notify you as soon as practicable of any changes in dates and times or if these restrictions are no longer necessary.” It is the intention of the National Park Service to open these park areas to the general public as soon as the Secret Service advises that it is safe to do so.

The National Park Service has determined that lesser restrictive measures will not suffice based on the Secret Service’s security-based assessment that these park areas need to be closed to the general public during this time. 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” given the temporary nature of these closures and the existence of other available park and non-park areas that remain open to the public including the National Mall, McPherson Square and other nearby
park areas. Further, the closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic, or cultural values and is not of a highly controversial nature, and does not require a long-term or significant modification in the resource management objectives. To the contrary, security closures such as these are frequent for visits and events on the White House grounds with Secret Service protectees, and expected by the public for these types of events.

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 will be made through media advisories, maps, 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/
John Stanwich,
NPS Liaison to the White House
National Capital Region

April 21, 2026