The Great American Outdoors Act has awarded $5.7 million to the National Park Service for planning phase 1 of repairs to the seawalls and shoreline landscape of the National Mall Tidal Basin. This is a major step towards securing the future sustainability and preservation of the Tidal Basin, an iconic and endangered cultural landscape in the heart of Washington, D.C.

The Tidal Basin is a complex, iconic public landscape with some of our most renowned national monuments and includes places of remembrance and reflection that tell the history of our nation. Unfortunately, the instability of the land underneath the Tidal Basin, daily flooding, and crumbling infrastructure threaten its sustainability and visitor enjoyment.

The seawall repair project is due in part to the expansive reach and persuasive influence of the Tidal Basin Ideas Lab, a partnership between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Trust for the National Mall. The National Park Service is now seeking input from the public on the seawall rehabilitation as they work to address significant flooding negatively impacting the Tidal Basin and surrounding areas.

In 2019, when the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched its campaign to preserve the Tidal Basin, you raised your hand by signing a petition in support of ensuring a resilient future for this significant and beloved public space.

Today, we’re asking for your help once again.

You have a chance to give input through the National Park Service's website. Add your comment in support of the seawall repair while encouraging a Master Plan to rehabilitate and preserve the entire cultural landscape of the National Mall Tidal Basin.

Comment period closes Sep 12, 2022 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time.