Tidal Basin Public Scoping - Comment Period #1

The National Park Service is embarking on a Development Concept Plan and Environmental Assessment that will guide the long-term management of the Tidal Basin, with a focus on transportation; conservation; tree preservation; protection of natural and cultural resources; visitor experience and recreation; infrastructure; security and more.

The Tidal Basin, created in the 19th century, is both an impressive engineering feat and a key feature of West Potomac Park. Over time, it has become an iconic and cherished public space, known for its cultural and commemorative significance. Each year, an estimated 36 million visitors from around the world come to the National Mall to see the Tidal Basin and its surrounding monuments and memorials. During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, over 1.5 million people visit to admire the breathtaking blooms of more than 1,500 cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin.

However, in recent years, several factors have contributed to wear and tear on the Tidal Basin, including record crowds that visit year-round to enjoy its scenery, monuments, and recreational opportunities. Additionally, growing visitation and escalating maintenance costs have left the NPS unable to keep pace with needed repairs at the Tidal Basin. The iconic cherry trees are under constant threat from trampled, compacted soils and the twice-daily inundation of brackish water in some areas. This planning effort will provide direction for the long-term management and rehabilitation of the Tidal Basin cultural landscape based on the vision of the National Mall Plan and other planning documents.

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A virtual public scoping meeting to discuss the plan and answer questions about the project was held on Feb. 19, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. During the meeting, National Park Service officials presented design concepts and held a question and answer period.

The presentation file from the public meeting and video recording are linked below.

The project was open for comment from February 19 to March 21. During the open comment period, 80 pieces of correspondence were received.

A summary of public and agency comments received during scoping is linked below.

Document Content:

2025 02 19 Public Meeting Presentation   (17.6 MB, PDF file) February 19, 2025 - Public Meeting Recording    Public Comment Report Tidal Basin Scoping_2025_04_21.pdf   (11.3 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.