President's Report 2017: A Year in Review

From the swelling crowds of January to an electric Fourth of July to the first snow of the season in December, it has been an eventful year on the National Mall. As 2017 draws to a close, I am proud of how much this national park means to all Americans and how much we accomplished together this year through your generous support.

Visitation across all national parks has reached record highs—a clear indication of the need to protect these treasured places. The National Mall will see more than 30 million visits to the monuments and memorials again this year. In 2017, we celebrated ten years of partnership with the National Park Service and together moved forward critical projects. 

With your help, the Trust successfully relocated the Lockkeeper's House and will complete final restorations in spring 2018 – opening the house to the public for the first time in decades. You also supported the rehabilitation of the George Mason Memorial. A repaired fountain, new plantings and touched up statue and trellis will greatly enhance the visitor experience to this hidden gem.

In 2018, you’ll be hearing more from us about opportunities and activity for additional projects that are ramping up including:

• redesigning and rebuilding the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables – making the stables a new principal destination on the National Mall,

• raising funds to preserve and protect the beloved cherry blossom trees, and

• initiating a comprehensive study focused on the critical needs to repair the Tidal Basin seawall.

Thanks to you, 2017 has been an incredible year for the Trust. With your support in 2018, we can continue our work to preserve the historic legacy and transform the visitor experience on the National Mall.

I wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

Sincerely,

Catherine Townsend

President & CEO