Portions of the lawn at the National Mall, a renowned landmark in Washington, D.C., will be closed to the general public for approximately the next five months for turf restoration and maintenance work.
The National Park Service (NPS) announced that it has fenced off the central turf panels between 3rd Street and 14th Street and begun restoration efforts to rehabilitate the grass and soil damaged by recent large-scale events. This closure is scheduled to remain in effect until January 24, 2027.
The NPS explained that environmental conditions had deteriorated, with the turf damaged and the soil heavily compacted due to recent major events that drew massive crowds. During the restoration period, park authorities plan to strictly prohibit general public access as well as the hosting of large-scale events within the restricted zone.
An NPS official stated, "Preventing additional foot traffic and damage is essential to accelerating the turf's natural recovery," adding, "If the work is completed earlier than anticipated, the restrictions will be lifted ahead of schedule."
Meanwhile, certain areas other than the lawns, such as sidewalks and pedestrian walkways between 3rd Street and 14th Street, will remain open and accessible as usual during the project.