National Mall Undergoes a Facelift

The grass is always greener on the other side of the Washington Monument. But not for long. Landscape renovation of the elongated field at the eastern end of the site begins in September and will be completed a month before the 2012 elections.

1 minute read

July 2, 2011, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jeff Jamawat

Several improvements will be made to the lawn with the main focus being the surface soil, which has deteriorated over the years.

Patterson Clark of The Washington Post reports:

"The top six to 18 inches of soil will be enhanced with a mixture of coarse sand and compost, which will alleviate compaction and increase water permeability. Panels will be raised 2 inches higher than surrounding walkways and each panel will be edged by a granite curb-and gutter-system to channel rainfall runoff into underground concrete cisterns, which will supply water for a new, more durable irrigation system."

National Mall is the venue where President Obama gave his inaugural address in 2009. The site is maintained by the National Park Service.

FULL STORY: Upgrading the lawn at the National Mall

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 in The Washington Post

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