Norton Concerned about Deference to Neighborhoods, Asks NPS to Halt Approval Process for Francis Marion Memorial

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter to Peter May, National Park Service (NPS) Associate Regional Director for Lands, Planning, and Design for the National Capital Region, asking him to meet with her before taking any further action on approving the Francis Marion Memorial, and he has agreed. Norton said, "Parks owned by the NPS but used by neighborhood residents require respect and deference from the parties. After hearing from constituents, an increasing number of whom have children and make maximum use of our parks, I am concerned that NPS is rushing through this process without sufficient courtesy and respect for the affected community. . . Neighborhood residents are taxpaying U.S. and D.C. citizens whose quality of everyday life depends on the park."

Norton's letter follows:

December 30, 2014

Peter May

Associate Regional Director

Lands, Planning, and Design for the National Capital Region

National Park Service

1100 Ohio Drive SW

Washington, DC 20242

Dear Mr. May,

As you know, the National Park Service (NPS) owns federal parks spread throughout District of Columbia neighborhoods. The hybrid relationship has worked well because of the respect and deference that the District and NPS have always given each other. There are signs that this important relationship may be breaking down.

Several of my constituents have contacted me about the approval process for the Francis Marion Memorial. To afford space for memorials, Congress has sanctioned use of NPS parks in the District. I have no general disagreement with this decision, and indeed worked with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to ensure that parks rather than the National Mall were used. However after hearing from constituents, an increasing number of whom have children and make maximum use of our parks, I am concerned that NPS is rushing through this process without sufficient courtesy and respect for the affected community.

The Francis Marion memorial was authorized by Congress in 2008, but the process to get the memorial approved did not begin until this summer, over six years later. We understand the need to move before the authorization for the memorial ends at the beginning of May 2015; however, that is almost five months away and the delay has nothing to with the community. I understand that there are certain benchmarks that must be met when authorizing a new memorial site and design, but it appears that the current process for approving this particular memorial is not allowing sufficient time and effort to consider community concerns, particularly residents' concerns on the placement of the memorial in a park that is regularly used for neighborhood gatherings, sports, children's play, walking dogs, and neighborhood activities. These are fully compatible with memorials if we work together.

On October 2, 2014, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission commented on potential sites for the memorial. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts reviewed and commented on a site selection study at its November 20, 2014 meeting. On December 4, 2014, NCPC met to review and approve a staff report that recommended that the memorial be placed in Marion Park. Although the hearing process appears to have been rushed, the required approvals still have not been issued. Therefore, there is time to discuss the preference of residents for the placement of the memorial not in the middle of Marion Park, making the center of the park unusable for the community, but elsewhere in the park or in another park.

We appreciate that Francis Marion is a hero to some, but he has a controversial past for others. This historic figure is not likely to attract frequent visitors, nor is he considered a national figure today. Neighborhood residents are taxpaying U.S. and D.C. citizens whose quality of everyday life depends on the park. I ask that no further action be taken in the approval process for the Francis Marion Memorial until you can meet with me.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton