The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund is providing $112.76 million to the National Park Service to rehabilitate the failing seawalls around a portion of the Tidal Basin and along West Potomac Park. This funding is part of the recently enacted $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill for FY2023, which included $1.9 billion for deferred maintenance projects in national parks and on public lands.

The contract was awarded to Cianbro Construction of Pittsfield, Maine on August 29 and is the largest design build contract in NPS history. The seawall rehabilitation will cover 19% of the Tidal Basin’s historic seawalls and will serve as a model for the restoration of the entire perimeter of the Tidal Basin. 238 trees will be removed, and 312 new trees will be planted, including cherry trees and more resilient vegetation.

Thanks in part to the National Trust and the Trust for the National Mall’s Tidal Basin Ideas Lab, NPS will also launch a comprehensive plan process for the entire Tidal Basin in the coming months.

The Tidal Basin Ideas Lab was critical in raising awareness and demonstrating public support for the vast needs of the Tidal Basin and we thank you for your support and participation.