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D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (web|news|bio) said members of Congress should be ashamed of the condition of the National Mall.
"There's no great national park that suffers from this kind of neglect," D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said at a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing.
Norton and others criticized the lawn's condition, saying there are dying trees, trampled grass and a lack of restrooms and other amenities for visitors. They also said the lakes and pools are dirty and walkways are damaged in some spots.
The Mall stretches from the U.S. Capitol to the Potomac River, and includes long vistas of grassy land. The Washington Monument rises from the middle, museums line the stretch near the Capitol, and monuments and memorials to presidents and wars are sprinkled throughout.
Some restoration advocates said it's too big a task for the park service to handle by itself.
John Akridge, a developer and chairman of the Trust for the National Mall, raises private money for the Mall. The group raised about $600,000 this month in its first fundraiser.
"I don't know if any of you have been down to the Mall lately," Akridge told lawmakers. "It's a disgrace. It's in a state of disrepair. The park service cannot do it alone."
He said the Mall has racked up about $350 million in deferred maintenance. The park also needs about $100 million in building repairs and enhanced food and restroom facilities. Another $50 million is required for improved educational programming, he added.
The budget for the Mall this year was about $31 million.
Other groups, such as the National Capital Planning Commission, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, D.C. government and the Architect of the Capitol are also coming up with plans for the Mall and nearby areas.
Judy Scott Feldman, president of National Coalition to Save Our Mall, said a team of experts rather than government agencies should be overseeing plans.
Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the subcommittee charged with reviewing future plans for the site, said the Mall must be revamped.
"We can hope that the Mall's memorials, museums and open space will inspire visitors and future generations of Americans to greatness of their own," Grijalva said. "But these hopes will not be realized if the condition of the Mall fails to inspire."
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