Turf Restoration

With more estimated visits than any other national parks and thousands of events permitted annually, the urban landscape of the National Mall has endured tremendous wear and tear. As a result, the turf was in poor shape with soils so compacted that water could not be absorbed. The Trust for the National Mall supported the extensive restoration effort led by the National Park Service to reverse this damage and make the park sustainable for generations to come.

Turf restoration timelapse video courtesy of EarthCam.

Turf restoration on the panels between 3rd and 12th streets was completed over four years, restoring 20 acres of grass along the National Mall and bringing the green back to America’s Front Yard. All the elements of the turf restoration project were designed to create a healthy and water efficient landscape. The irrigation system was an essential part of the project, which also included excavation and removal of up to five inches of damaged soil, re-engineered soils to resist soil compaction and improve drainage, one million gallons of underground cisterns for rainwater harvesting and reuse, drought resistant turf varieties, and beautiful granite curbing to protect the lawn edges.

In September 2013, John Deere provided more than $400,000 in turf management equipment and continues to partner with the Trust and National Park Service.