Statement from the President and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall - National Park Week 2025

Statement from Catherine Townsend, President and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall 
National Park Week 2025 

Honoring the Vital Role of the National Mall as we Celebrate National Park Week

As we mark National Park Week, we are reminded of the enduring power of our public lands to unite, inspire, and educate. Among these national treasures, the National Mall stands as America’s front yard — a symbol of our democracy, our history, and our shared values. 

For me and my family, the National Mall is more than a destination — it’s home. I’ve raised four children just a few blocks away on Capitol Hill. While many know the National Mall as America’s front yard, we’ve always lovingly referred to it as our backyard. It’s where my children played on the grass panels, attended inaugurations, participated in programs with their classrooms, watched fireworks light up the sky on the Fourth of July, and discovered the awe of standing before the iconic monument and memorials that tell the story of our nation. It’s a place of play, learning, reflection, and deep connection — not just for us, but for millions who visit each year. 

The National Park Service plays a vital role in preserving and maintaining this iconic landscape, ensuring that the National Mall remains a place where all people — families, students, educators, tourists, and citizens — can gather, explore, and reflect. Their stewardship is nothing short of extraordinary, especially in times like these, when federal budgets are stretched and the future of increased investment in our parks is uncertain. 

That is why it is more important than ever to reaffirm our collective commitment to this sacred space. Continued, robust federal investment is essential to protect and enhance the National Mall for generations to come. But the responsibility doesn’t fall on government alone. 

It takes all of us. The Trust for the National Mall exists to bridge the public and private sectors — mobilizing visionary philanthropy, corporate leadership, and volunteer engagement to support the National Park Service’s work. Together, we are not only preserving history; we are building a more vibrant, accessible, and meaningful civic space for the future.  

As the late historian and conservationist Wallace Stegner so eloquently said, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” The National Mall is the living embodiment of that idea — a space where history and hope converge, and where all are welcome. It transcends politics. It is deeply personal, profoundly national, and beautifully democratic. 

These values are especially important as we prepare for a momentous milestone in our nation’s story — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. As we approach this historic celebration, the eyes of the nation — and the world — will turn to the National Mall as the stage for reflection, renewal, and recommitment to the principles on which our country was founded. 

During National Park Week, we celebrate the beauty and impact of America’s parks — and we call on our partners in government, the private sector, and the public to stand with us in protecting the National Mall. Because when we invest in the heart of our nation, we invest in the spirit of our democracy. 

Catherine Townsend 
President & CEO 
Trust for the National Mall