June 16, 2006
Dear Coalition Friends:
You have not heard from us in several weeks but we have been active on a number of fronts:
1. As promised, our free National Mall map and historical guide is out. Titled "The National Mall. Stage for Democracy", it is pocket-sized, richly illustrated, and shows the entire Mall including the most recent museums and memorials. On the back side, it tells the history of public use of this great public open space for celebrations, demonstrations, and recreation. We have been distributing it to tourists, local citizens, and government agencies. This is the first-ever map and historical guide devoted to the National Mall as a whole; other existing maps and brochures focus on museums and memorials but say little about the public open space.
You can get free copies at the information desk at the National Building Museum, in the historic red brick Pension Building, at 401 F Street (Metro: Judiciary Square stop, Red Line). While you are there, we recommend you visit the Washington: Symbol and City exhibit.
Members of Congress can get free copies at the First Call office in the Longworth House Office Building (LHOB), Room B-227.
This map/historical guide is the first public service project of the Coalition's National Mall Third Century Initiative program. Our series of public forums held last year identified a strong need for public orientation and education about the Mall. As told in the map/guide, the Mall's rich history includes Marion Anderson's 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, civil rights marches and demonstrations, July 4th celebrations, the annual Folklife Festival, and all kinds of recreational activities. For more history of the Mall, click here see our website's illustrated slide presentation at:
To learn more about the Third Century Mall idea, click here.
The Third Century concept builds on L'Enfant's 1791 "First Century" Plan and the McMillan Plan's "Second Century Mall." One hundred years after McMillan, it's time for the "Third Century Mall" plan.
2. The April 12 Senate hearing on the future of the Mall achieved important milestones:
The hearing itself represents official acknowledgment that the Mall needs Congress's attention and action;
Senators and witnesses all agreed--for the first time--that the Mall needs a new, updated Master Plan. Participants included Chairman Craig Thomas (R-WY), Senators Salazar (D-CO) and Akaka (D-HI) and witnesses representing the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Park Service, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the National Coalition to Save Our Mall;
Also for the first time the National Park Service publicly accepted Congress's 2003 definition of the Mall--based in the historic McMillan Plan of 1901-1902--as the great cross-axis extending from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and from the White House to the Jefferson Memorial. (In the past, the NPS has stated that "the Mall" includes only the area from 3rd to 14th Streets, not including the Washington Monument, Capitol, Smithsonian museums, Lincoln Memorial, and all the lands added to the Mall after 1901.)
To review Mall history, click here.
The next important question is who will undertake the master planning process. The National Park Service says it is undertaking its own master planning process. It is, however, only one of the several Mall managers, which includes: Architect of the Capitol, Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, DC Government, and General Services Administration. To be continued...
3. We continue to discuss our Future of The National Mall report and findings with Congressional members and staff, government agencies, and citizens groups. Our slide presentation covers the Mall's history, current problems and needs, and proposed solutions. Ideas include 1. enhancing the existing Mall with public amenities--moveable tables and chairs, mobile food carts with good food and drink, convenient parking and restrooms, and cultural activities, and 2. expanding the Mall onto adjacent public parkland and rights-of-way to allow it to accommodate continuing needs for public open space and sites for future important museums and monuments. In coming weeks, we will put the presentation on our website so everyone can see it. Check back shortly at:
http://www.nationalmall.net
4. The DC Preservation League named "Washington's Symbolic Core," which includes the National Mall, one of its Most Endangered Places for 2005. The nomination submitted by the Committee of 100 on the Federal City cited the proliferation of security barriers and walls that threaten the beauty, majesty, and integrity of Washington's historic heart and symbolic public spaces.
5. At its Annual Awards Banquet on May 27th, the DC Federation of Citizens Associations presented an award to yours truly, Judy Scott Feldman, in recognition of our continued work to save the Mall. I had presented our Future of The National Mall report at a Federation Assembly Meeting on April 26th. It is a great honor to have the support of the citizens of this great city.
Now it's time for a short vacation. You'll be hearing from us soon.
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