Washington, DC — The next 100-year plan for the National Mall provides the topic for a public forum tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

A panel featuring conservancy and park leaders Doug Blonsky, COO of the Central Park Conservancy; Amy Meyer, Co-Chair of People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Regina Peruggi, President of the Central Park Conservancy; and William Whalen, former Director of the National Park Service will be on hand to discuss this issue. Raymond Gastil of the Van Alen Institute will moderate the panel.

The purpose of the forum is to lead a public discussion of how the Mall can updated and modernized, continuing in the tradition of the L’Enfant and McMillan plans.

President George Washington entrusted Peter (Pierre) L’Enfant with the design of the new nation’s capital in 1791. L’Enfant envisioned the Mall a vast, unmarred public space that represented not only this nation’s identity, but that would echo the vibrancy of a country blessed with limitless opportunity well into the future.

A decade following the Mall’s first centennial birthday, the McMillan Plan (1901-1902) revitalized L’Enfant’s original vision, expanding the Mall to include the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials along with a ring of public parks encircling the city.

Today, thirteen years past the Mall’s second centennial, L’Enfant’s original vision is once again the topic of discussion as both public and private groups consider how the Mall should be expanded or preserved in keeping with the Mall’s original 1791 plan.

"The fear is that we are in danger of losing the Mall’s democratic heart and spirit if we don’t take action to monitor development and plan for the National Mall’s next 100 years," said Judy Scott Feldman, President of the National Coalition to Save Our Mall, one of the sponsors of the forum. "At issue is that there is no single unified concept of how the Mall can continue to be the vibrant civic space L’Enfant originally created, sparing it from becoming overcrowded with concrete and steel as private interest groups rally for just one more monument, path or building."

"This is an exciting opportunity for the government and the public to once again take charge and work together to assure a vibrant and inspiring public space for future generations."

The Initiative for a National Mall Conservancy envisions a three-part planning process: the introductory educational public forum; a series of public workshops in the spring to examine specific questions; and a follow-up public forum in late April or May to discuss the outcomes of the workshop series and to begin implementation.

The forum is free and open to the public. The location on the GW campus is The Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street NW, Room 113. More information is available at http://www.nationalmall.net.

Parking is available on the street and in garages at the Elliott School, which is at 1957 E Street NW on The George Washington University campus in Foggy Bottom.