Washington Business Journal: National Mall improvements coming for America's 250th birthday

Washington Business Journal: National Mall improvements coming for America's 250th birthday

“The National Mall is set for big changes in preparation for an influx of tourists for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. Here's a look at some of the projects — totaling an estimated $500 million — debuting before or during 2026.”

“The National Park Service and Trust for the National Mall are set to break ground this fall on a $75 million project to overhaul Constitution Gardens, a 50-acre park nestled between the Vietnam Veterans and World War II memorials.

Originally built as a gift to the nation for the 1976 Bicentennial, the park’s centerpiece — a man-made pond featuring a memorial to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence — quickly became an environmental hazard.

Constructed without proper water circulation, the pond’s murky knee-deep water is stagnant and when the weather gets hot green algae blooms dot the surface, which can kill fish.

“It’s an environmental mess,’” said Catherine Townsend, president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit that raises money for the Mall.”