Centennial Challenge Initiative

Challege Overview

The National Park Centennial Initiative was launched in preparation for the National Park Service's (NPS) 100th anniversary in 2016. The administration's program called for an increase in the NPS's operating budget, and an innovative federal fund of $100 million a year, for ten years, to be matched by private contributions for signature projects to preserve and restore America's parks. Congress approved $27 million in matching funds the first year of the program (FY-08) and is currently working on second round legislation to fully fund the program.

National Mall Receives $1.1 Project Grant

In April 2008, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne awarded grants for more than $50 million in projects across the National Parks system, including one for the National Mall. "We'll soon install new, modern interpretive signs near important monuments and memorials on the Mall, as well as new way-finder signs to help guide visitors to other downtown locations near the Mall. Both will improve the visitor experience so that our visitors take away a more lasting and enjoyable memory of their visit to our nation's capital," said Kempthorne.

Trust for the National Mall

The Trust for the National Mall, the authorized funding partner of the National Park Service (NPS) for the Mall, is currently raising $1.1 million in private funds to match the $1.1 Centennial Challenge funds to improve directional and educational signs and visitor information on the Mall.

Recently, the Trust made its first installment of $277,000 towards their commitment of this $2.2 million Centennial Initiative project. The Trust must raise all of the matching funds for this project by September 2008.

With the Centennial Challenge funds and the Trust's matching contribution, $2.2 million will be available to replace dated signs and maps on the Mall to assist the more than 25 million visitors to the National Mall each year. Some of the signs are more than a dozen years old and do not include the Roosevelt Memorial, the Korean War Memorial or the World War II Memorial.

The Trust for the National Mall will continue working with the National Park Service to leverage additional matching funds for other projects on the National Mall. The Trust hopes to raise $500 million over the long term to support these projects and others. Future projects for the National Mall will be awarded on a competitive basis, and be guided by the National Mall Plan which will serve as a blue print for future work to restore "America's Front Yard."