May 21, 2026
Mr. William Scharf
Chair, National Capital Planning Commission
401 9th Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20004
Subject: Comments on the Proposed Monumental Arch, Memorial Circle, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Columbia Island
Dear Chairman Scharf,
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents more than 5,000 members with at least 5,000 years of national park management experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Park System. Among our members are former NPS directors, regional directors, superintendents, resource specialists, park rangers, maintenance and administrative staff, and a full array of other former employees, volunteers, and supporters.
The National Park Service has the distinct honor and responsibility to conserve and maintain our country’s most important historic properties for the long-term education and benefit of the American people and other citizens of the world. These lands include eighty-six units, including memorials, within the National Capital Area parks, which represent a distinct array of natural and cultural resources significant to the people and the history of the United States. Included among these areas is Columbia Island, which lies on the west site of the Memorial Bridge between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. It is on this island, within a memorial circle designed originally to symbolically connect the north and south sides of the Potomac River—and the halves of the nation that battled during the Civil War—where the current administration now proposes to construct a triumphal arch.
The historic view between the historic sites that bound the Potomac River is unique, a product of thoughtful planning and design. The design of any new memorial itself must respect the existing landscape and skyline, and we are not persuaded that the scale of a proposed 250-foot-tall memorial arch befits the entry approach to the solemnity of Arlington National Cemetery. The proposed structure would
dominate views of the National Mall by exceeding the height of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the U.S. Capitol building. And its placement could, at least during construction, cause not inconsiderable disturbance to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in this area of significant public visitation. All of these and any other significant potential effects that may affect the American public, the views of and from the capital, and the surrounding landscape deserve equally careful consideration and an opportunity for meaningful public dialogue and comment, such as should be included in the required NEPA process.
To ensure professional and public engagement in major changes to the historic and iconic landscape of our nation’s capital, the merits of all new memorials should be carefully considered and vetted by considering the processes outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Commemorative Works Act. The latter requires congressional authorization for any memorial structure on federal land within the District of Columbia.
The coming 250th anniversary of America’s founding reminds us how our rich history is preserved on the landscape of an incomparable variety of parks and cultural sites, especially in our nation’s capital.
Americans and visitors from around the world look with awe and reverence to these places. We urge you to respect and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and best planning practices when making decisions that affect preservation of history and historic properties in Washington, D.C.
Thank you for considering our input on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Schreier
Chair of the Executive Council
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Email: Ed****@********ps.org
Mail: 2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Unit 77436, Washington, DC 20013
Web: www.protectnps.org
Phone: (202) 819-8622