National Park Service seeks public comment on future of the Tidal Basin

Help shape the future of the Tidal Basin!

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.

Share your ideas between Feb. 19 and March 19.

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.

Join the Conversation

A virtual public scoping meeting to discuss the plan and answer questions about the project will take place on Feb. 19, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. During the meeting, National Park Service officials will present the design concept and be available for questions.

The meeting can be accessed via this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88229654126?pwd=ODAKKA4n5wk0d1Fj1bELex5UC3gQ6D.

The meeting will be recorded and available on the project website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/tidalbasinDCP. If you need reasonable accommodations during the meeting please reach out to ncr_lands_and_planning@nps.gov.

Comments received will guide the design of the memorial and will be incorporated into an Environmental Assessment that evaluates how any proposed actions would affect the environment and historic features of the site and must be completed before taking any action.

How to Comment
Comments must be submitted in writing, preferably via an online form through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website, used by the agency to manage official correspondence and analyze public comment in the planning process. From the project website (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/tidalbasinDCP), navigate to the menu on the left-hand side of the page to "Open for Comment," then open the "Tidal Basin Development Concept Plan - Public Scoping Design Concept" folder. The green "Comment Now" button will take you to the online form.

Comments may also be submitted via U.S. mail to:

Tammy Stidham
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
ATTN: Tidal Basin DCP

Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked by March 19 to receive consideration.

Please be aware that the entire comment submitted - including personally identifiable information (PII), such as address, phone number, and email address - may be made publicly available. Requests to withhold such PII from public release will be considered, but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld.

Document Content:

2025 02 19 Public Meeting Presentation - for comment   (17.6 MB, PDF file) February 19, 2025 - Public Meeting Recording    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.