A Special Message from the Founder and Chair
A Special Message from the Founder and Chair
On August 25th of this month, we will celebrate the 104th year of the founding of the National Park Service. It has been over 50 years since the National Park Service received an infusion of funding from Congress to improve national parks. So I’m thrilled that new landmark legislation—the Great American Outdoors Act –will finally provide another round of funding for critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades – so our national parks can continue to be accessible and safe for the public to visit and enjoy.
As the founder of the Trust for the National Mall over 13 years ago, I have been advocating for upgrades to the National Mall for 20 years, so this is finally a dream come true. I knew, from my years as a real estate developer in Washington, that private citizens needed to take action to ensure that today’s National Mall continues to evolve for our grandchildren and future generations to learn and enjoy.
The National Mall could receive much needed funding from this new legislation (it has the highest repair bill in the country!), but it will be only a fraction of what is needed. The Trust’s efforts, with donations from the public, will provide the additional investment needed for upgrades to sections of the National Mall that will improve the visitor experience. Our next level of work has just begun and is more important than ever.
The Trust for the National Mall today is one of the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan, philanthropic partners of the National Park Service. We appreciate the role that you and our dedicated community of donors have played in making it such a vibrant and welcoming space for the more than 36 million visits each year (that’s more than Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon combined). You and I know, the Mall will uniquely impact each visitor. It is such an incredible space – paying tribute to America’s great leaders and to our distinctive First Amendment rights.
We have been developing more and exciting ways to bring the National Mall to YOU: virtually with this year’s cherry blossoms through #BloomCam in March and the fireworks on July 4th through #MonumentCam; and to share the meaning of the Mall: our team is developing a bold new program, March On: The Experience of Free Speech on the National Mall, which showcases First Amendment activities on the Mall and celebrates our founding principles.
Through March On, our team will create educational content for schools and organizations to learn more about the role of the National Mall in First Amendment activities over the last 100 years. As they explore, on foot, where significant events occurred, they will be equipped with history and content to inform their understanding of the events, and of the First Amendment.
Click on our new digital timeline and find out more about how you can help us ensure that this important experience is available to all.
Friend, as we celebrate the founding of the National Park Service and the recent historic legislation, will you join with me on our continued journey and make a donation to the Trust for the National Mall today?
Your gift will help the Trust for the National Mall continue to pursue its mission to make the Mall the best place in the world and will support the development of programming, content, and virtual opportunities to enhance the visitor experience and bring the Mall to everyone – everywhere!
Thank you for your continued investment in the Trust for the National Mall. We are deeply grateful for your support and encouragement.
Thankfully,
John E. (Chip) Akridge, III
Founder and Chairman, Board of Directors