The National Mall Tidal Basin, an urban National Park and part of America's front yard, is a beloved and iconic public landscape whose architecture and open space captures individuals and events that define our nation and celebrate cherished American values.

Comprising some of our most renowned national monuments, the Tidal Basin includes places of remembrance and reflection: The Jefferson Memorial reflects America’s earliest American ideals; the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial demonstrates our country’s resilience; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial highlights the struggle for civil rights we continue to face today.

The flowering cherry trees that encircle the Basin represent America’s friendship with Japan and are key to the Tidal Basin’s identity. The trees are featured at Washington’s famous Cherry Blossom Festival, which attracts more than 1.5 million annual visitors. The landmark also holds lesser-known treasures like the John Paul Jones Memorial, the Floral Library, the Japanese Pagoda, and the Japanese Lantern.

The need for the Tidal Basin arose out of a disastrous flood in 1881, which devastated the District so severely that much of the southern part of the city was accessible only by boat. Flooded areas included parts of the National Mall such as the Washington Monument, White House Ellipse, and the Capitol.

But while this unique waterway connects disparate stories that span centuries of American history, the instability of the land underneath, daily flooding, and overcrowding compromise both historic resources and visitors’ experiences. Each day at high tide, water floods the sidewalks surrounding the Tidal Basin, making them impassable for visitors and compromising the roots of the cherry trees. During inclement weather, conditions are even worse; the edge of the sidewalk is indistinguishable from the deeper waters in the basin.

Tidal Basin Ideas Lab

Recognizing the Tidal Basin's critical challenges, the National Trust and the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the National Park Service, launched the Tidal Basin Ideas Lab in 2019. This initiative leveraged public input, private-sector expertise, and philanthropic support to develop bold, innovative long-term concepts for the National Park Service to consider as formal planning moves forward.

Due in part to the expansive reach and persuasive influence of the Tidal Basin Ideas Lab, the National Park Service received nearly $124 million to repair and rehabilitate portions of the seawalls and shoreline along the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park. This funding is part of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill for FY2023, which included $1.9 billion for deferred maintenance projects in national parks and on public lands, thanks to the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020.

This critical funding will allow NPS to raise the seawalls of approximately 6,800 linear feet of the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park to their historic functional height, improve accessibility, and plan for future flooding. The walkway on top of the Tidal Basin’s seawall will be replaced and widened, and the landscaping adjacent to the seawalls will be rebuilt, including the removal and replacement of approximately 300 trees.

Development Concept Plan and Environmental Assessment

In February 2025, the National Park Service released a Development Concept Plan and Environmental Assessment for the rehabilitation of the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park. The National Trust is engaged in this process, supporting efforts to ensure the long-term preservation and enhancement of this historic landscape. Federal funding, including $112.76 million from the Great American Outdoors Act, is already contributing to seawall restoration, which is a crucial step in protecting the site from further damage and improving the visitor experience.

As planning moves forward, the National Trust is advocating for improvements that prioritize accessibility, ecological resilience, and a richer visitor experience. Key recommendations include expanded pedestrian pathways, new tidal wetlands to mitigate flooding, and increased cherry tree plantings to protect and enhance this cherished landscape. The 2019 Tidal Basin Ideas Lab, developed in partnership with the National Park Service, has provided a strong foundation for these efforts, emphasizing the importance of innovative and sustainable solutions. The National Trust remains committed to working with stakeholders to shape a future for the Tidal Basin that balances preservation with modern needs.