Friday, Nov 16, 2007
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Deputy Director Lindi Harvey and National Mall & Memorial Parks Superintendent Peggy O’Dell yesterday welcomed the Trust for the National Mall (TNM) as the official partner for the preservation and conservation of the National Mall.
The TNM is a not-for-profit national organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to raising private sector funds and support from across the country to provide support to the National Mall & Memorial Parks, one of the most heavily visited parks in the National Park System.
“From the serenity of the Vietnam Memorial to the majesty of the Jefferson Memorial, to Martin Luther King’s historic speech at the base of the Lincoln Memorial, much of our nation’s history is written on the Mall,” said Kempthorne. “Today’s announcement of the formation of the Trust for the National Mall as the official partner of the National Park Service means history will continue to be written here for generations to come.”
Currently, the National Park Service faces $5 billion of repairs for parks across the country. As reported widely, President Bush announced the National Park Centennial Initiative in preparation for the National Park Service's 100th anniversary in 2016, promising an additional $100 million in federal funds each year for 10 years for the National Park Service's operating budget, as well as $100 million a year for 10 years in federal funds to be matched by private contributions for signature projects to preserve and restore America’s parks.
A project on the National Mall is among the small group of projects already selected as recipients. Through the public/private partnership with the National Park Service, the TNM will work to leverage funding for additional projects on the National Mall.
“The National Park Service has a long history of public/private partnerships that have produced a strong track record when it comes to preserving America’s treasures,” said Harvey. “The Golden Gate Conservancy's work with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Crissy Field or the National Constitution Center and the Independence Visitor Center Corporation and their work with the National Park Service on Independence Mall in Philadelphia are examples of tremendous success with public/private partnerships. We expect no less when it comes to the heart of our Nation’s Capital.”
“We welcome the efforts and the enthusiasm the Trust brings to the table,” said O’Dell. “We look forward to partnering together to achieve many successful ideas and projects that will help this park shine even more than it already does.”
The TNM has identified as possible initial projects helping to raise funds to help restore the Lockkeeper’s House at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, to rehabilitate the Lincoln Reflecting Pool and Constitution Gardens Lake, and repair the Cherry Walk seawall around the Tidal Basin.
“Repairing and restoring ‘America’s Front Yard’ to a world-class park will require support from across the country,” said Chip Akridge, Chairman of the Trust. “We anticipate the repairs, long-term maintenance and educational programming will cost more than $350 million, of which we plan to raise a significant portion from the private sector and to take advantage of the Centennial Challenge funds proposed by the Administration and hopefully made available by Congress.”
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