Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands,
I am Chip Akridge, Chairman of Akridge, a local commercial real estate development and management
firm.
I am here today in my capacity as Chairman of the organization, the Trust for the National Mall.
The Trust for the National Mall is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the National
Park Service mission to "preserve ... unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values ...for
the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." As the official funding
partner of the National Park Service for the National Mall, the Trust has a long term goal to raise
over $500 million to help return the Park to a landscape of extraordinary beauty and to better
connect visitors to its unique and important history as the platform of our democracy.
After years of deferred maintenance on the National Mall, the current cost of restoring
"America's Front Yard" is a staggering $350 million. This figure does not include physical
improvements to handle the current volume of 25 million annual visitors or money for educational
programs.
The Park Service cannot restore "America's Front Yard" with its current budget. This urgently
needed work can be funded and completed only through a creative public-private partnership, which
is what the Trust for the National Mall is proposing.
Over the last twenty years, I've enjoyed regular jogs through downtown D.C. and across the
National Mall. I started this routine to check on my properties throughout the District and ended
each run with a scenic reminder of why I love this city, and a reminder of why I am proud to be an
American.
While I would look at the amazing icons on the National Mall: the sun coming up over the Capitol,
the flags circling the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson, Lincoln and war Memorials, I rarely
looked at the National Mall as a property manager. Over four years ago, someone challenged me to
look closer at the condition of the park, and sadly what I saw did not make this American proud.
The National Mall, "America's Front Yard," was and is a disgrace.
So with the help of several Washingtonians, I founded the Trust for the National Mall in an
effort to restore the National Mall to a place of beauty befitting our nation's Capitol. We knew
that we wouldn't be alone in our efforts since there were many people in this community who care
about this sacred and historic space. We were right.
We've modeled the Trust after the Central Park Conservancy in New York. Thirty years ago, half
of Central Park was closed and its 800 acres were completely run down. In 1980, Mayor Koch asked
Bill Beinecke, former Chairman of S&H Green Stamps, to lead a private effort to restore that park,
and a successful public-private partnership was born.
More than 25 years later and with close to $500 million raised, Central Park is truly a
world-class urban space. We hope to follow their lead, raise a similar amount, and restore the
National Mall to a place of beauty and pride for visitors and future generations.
Last November, the Trust held its national launch when Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne
announced the Trust's designation as the official partner of the National Park Service (NPS) to
raise private funds to be added to Federal funds for execution of the National Mall Plan. Under
the leadership of the Secretary and NPS Director Mary Bomar, our partnership is flourishing. They,
along with the new National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent, Peggy O'Dell, truly see the
value in creating productive public-private partnerships to restore our national parks and have
been terrific leaders in moving the Trust forward because they are committed to this American treasure.
On Thursday, May 8, the Trust hosted its inaugural benefit luncheon and there was resounding
affirmation for the need to restore the National Mall. In our first effort, with more than 500
supporters and more than $600,000 raised, it was clear that our community and individuals from
as far as Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Michigan all see the preservation of "America's Front
Yard" a priority.
Today, with budget cuts and a deferred maintenance bill of $5 billion in the NPS system, the
work cannot be done by the government alone. The National Mall carries a $350 million deferred
maintenance deficit, and with 25 million annual visitors (more visitors than Yellowstone, Yosemite
and the Grand Canyon parks combined) the decay from this wear and tear is massive and continues to
grow. The NPS has done an outstanding job with the funds available to them, but those funds have
been woefully inadequate to enable the NPS to properly maintain the park.
The National Park Service is working diligently on the critical work, preparing the National
Mall Plan which will determine the future of the National Mall and will be the blueprint for our
work. The NPS is working with over twenty cooperating agencies and thirty consulting parties to
prepare the National Mall Plan. In all over 500 professionals will have reviewed and commented on
the plan by the time it is approved. Additionally, during the plan scoping phase NPS held press
conferences, issued media releases, published a newsletter requesting participation, and held a
symposium and public meetings. More than 23,000 Americans from across the country have submitted
their comments to the plan. The most important messages from the public have been to protect the
space for First Amendment rights and freedom of expression demonstrations, increase the number of
toilets and food facilities, and improve the physical beauty and quality of the area.
I would like to add my voice to the public comment received; we do not want to restrict First
Amendment demonstrations on the National Mall. The Trust views First Amendment demonstrations on
the National Mall a fundamental right of every American. We believe that the National Park Service
shares this view.
The National Park Service leadership and staff have taken very seriously the guidance and vision
of these organizations and the thousands of Americans in developing the final plan. The National
Mall Plan which is due to be released at the end of 2008/beginning of 2009 and will serve as a
blueprint for the NPS and the Trust's work.
In addition to the estimated $350 million needed for the deferred maintenance backlog,
approximately $100 million is needed for infrastructure improvements like repairing or building
additional food and restroom facilities and $50 million is needed for educational programming, to
tell the story of our country's rich history found in the park to all its visitors.
While the National Mall Plan is being developed, the Trust has already started our work. With
the support of this committee, the National Park Service and the Department of Interior, the
National Mall was named a recipient of a Centennial Challenge grant in the amount of $1.1 million
to replace outdated signs and to test new interactive signs to enhance visitor orientation on the
National Mall. The Trust is in the process of raising the $1.1 million matching funds before
September 2008 to complete this project.
The National Mall, the 700-acre stretch of hallowed ground located between the Capitol and the
Lincoln Memorial and from Constitution Avenue to the Jefferson Memorial, has come to be known
worldwide as a symbol of democracy and America's heritage. It encompasses the strength and proud
history of our nation, symbolizes the democracy that our forefathers worked so hard to secure, and
memorializes the sacrifices of so many who have given their lives to preserve. It is "America's
Front Yard."
Our project is unique: restore and preserve one our greatest American icons for all visitors and
future generations. For some of us the National Mall is our backyard, but its real reach and purpose
is without boundaries. Because of this, we know our efforts must be far-reaching in scope and
require the support of volunteers ranging from gardeners and academics to individual and major
donors from across the country. Our efforts will include outreach and education to all Americans,
including students and parents, community leaders and patrons, educators and historians.
As a real estate developer and property manager, I know what an immensely difficult and ongoing
task it is to maintain the National Mall in world-class condition given the enormous usage of the
space. But its purpose is to honor our forefathers and all the people who have made our country
what it is today. It must be fixed and maintained and protected for First Amendment use in perpetuity.
We believe - and are certain that you will agree - that the National Mall is one of the Nation's
chief cultural assets. There is no other place in the United States that celebrates our democracy,
freedom of speech, leadership, and heroism like the National Mall, America's Front Yard. And it
needs all of our help now.
John E. "Chip" Akridge
Chairman
Trust for the National Mall
601 13th Street, NW Suite 300N
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel. 202-207-3930 Fax 202-347-8043
www.nationalmall.ogr
