Even after Freedom 250 events shut down the National Mall throughout the summer, a large portion will remain off limits to visitors through January.
The closure - which has already begun and goes through Jan. 24 - affects the center turf panels and tree panel areas of the National Mall between 3rd Street SW and 14th Street SW.
Visitors will not be allowed to access the fenced-in areas of the mall, the National Park Service said this week. The area is often a popular site for recreational activities and holding protests.
The other areas of the mall will be available for public access.
"Closures will be lifted as soon as practicable, restoring access to the public. Violation of this closure is prohibited," NPS said.
It comes after the National Mall
has had increased foot traffic because of several events that brought in tourists, including the Great American State Fair earlier in the summer and the more recent Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
Here's a look at why the mile-long stretch will be closed for the rest of the year.
Why is part of the National Mall closed?
The National Park Service said areas of the mall "require significant restoration due to wear, soil compaction, turf loss, and damage associated both with recent permitted events and sustained high levels of public use."
"These closures and public use limits are necessary to allow for effective turf rehabilitation and regrowth, as continued foot traffic would interfere with the recovery process," according to a release.
Last month and without evidence, President Donald Trump blamed "vandals" for grass being damaged on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial. At the time, he said the area would be opened again "and better than ever, shortly."
He previously blamed vandals for damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has undergone several rounds of repairs since April. However, charges were dropped against several people accused of vandalizing the pool.
The renovations of the National Mall are the latest in a series of DC makeovers during Trump's second presidency. He has launched an ambitious effort to reshape DC, including demolishing the East Wing of the White House to create a ballroom, adding gold horse statues near the Lincoln Memorial and announcing plans for a 2-year renovation of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why will parts of the National Mall be closed the rest of the year?
