

The Great American Outdoor Act is our funding stream for this,” said Sean Kennealy, deputy superintendent for the National Mall Memorials Park. “It’s going to be a significant investment. NPS is still working on estimating what the project will cost but said it will be over $100 million, depending on the design. Construction in the Tidal Basin would then begin in 2025, followed by renovations in West Potomac Park. Plans to secure a design contractor are expected to begin next year and extend through 2024. NPS is currently performing site investigations, which will last about four months before beginning the environmental assessment phase, a 13-month process. The park and Tidal Basin receive thousands of visitors in late March and April as people view the cherry blossoms, however, some sections of the walking paths are regularly closed due to flooding.

One goal of the overall project is to keep the land safe from flooding during routine events and also help as weather patterns change.
#Tidal basin dc install#
The plan now is to install a micro pile through the existing wall down to the foundation, what officials call a less intrusive solution. Over in West Potomac Park, the north section has undergone repairs in the past. The plan is to rebuild and elevate the seawall, creating protections for trees and vegetation in the area. Stidham said daily flooding along the east side of the Tidal Basin has been a serious concern. If all goes as planned, work will begin in 2025. Comments can be mailed or recorded on the NPS website, where more details about the seawall project can be reviewed. “These need to look like they do today, except in better shape,” she added during a meeting discussing the project. Tammy Stidham, deputy associate regional director with lands and planning at NPS. “We are looking to eliminate the settlement of these sea walls, these walls are very old,” said The oldest section of the wall was built in 1890. Matthew Morrison, Arborist at the National Mall and Memorial Parks and Catherine Townsend. Over the years, the wall has settled and poor drainage regularly causes flooding, which hurts the resources and trails along the Tidal Basin and in West Potomac Park. DC Cherry Blossoms are in danger due to flooding at Tidal Basin. The oldest section of the seawall is over 130 years old. The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a $100 million project that would restore portions of the sea wall along the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park in D.C.

Petal Porch Parade Tour March 20 to April 11 – E xplore the creativity and cherry blossom spirit of your neighbors. A virtual map with the locations of all registered Petal Porches will be created.įor more information on the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC go here.Petal Porch Parade March 15 – Register and decorate your porch.March 27 & 28 Fly your kite in your backyard and contribute images to the online community Blossom Kite Fly March 15 – Virtual demos and workshops.Art in Bloom Beginning March 20 – hunt for 25 giant cherry blossom sculptures flourishing throughout the DC area.The Cherry Blossom Festival has canceled the Cherry Blossom Parade for 2021 as well as made a number of events virtual to prioritize health and safety. So if you’re intent is to visit the cherry blossoms in Washington DC and bask in the peak blooms without crowds, I’d avoid visiting when there is an event on a weekend. You can definitely plan to attend these events, but some of these events will cause extra crowds, road closures, and traffic. There’s a schedule of events and some require tickets. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC is running from March 20 – April 11 2021. Check out my Washington DC Cherry Blossom Travel Guide to see where you can find glorious pink trees if you happen to miss the cherry blossom peak bloom in Washington DC.Ĭheck the Cherry Blossom Festival Schedule Before You Go If you come later you may still have some beautiful cherry blossom blooms at spots on the Tidal Basin and probably a beautiful carpet of pink to walk on if the petals have fallen.Īdditionally coming later another variety of cherry blossoms may be blooming that’s worth seeing. Coming early will only give you bare branches with some pink buds. If you are flying and have to plan ahead, I would err on the side of coming later rather than earlier. Weather varies greatly in spring in Washington DC which is why peak bloom for the cherry blossoms is hard to nail down. They have changed predictions at the last minute before. The NPS and the Washington DC Weather Gang put out predictions annually at the beginning of March but they are hit or miss. The cherry blossoms in Washington DC can bloom anywhere from mid-March to mid-April.
