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Visitors To National Mall Have Mixed Feelings About $50 Million Improvement Plan

September 8, 2009
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The National Mall has a new director--and he'll have the task of overseeing several major improvement projects set to begin during the first year of his tenure.

If you buy the old saying that the National Mall is "America's Front Yard"--then it's fair to say that newly named director John Piltzecker has more to do than just mow the lawn.

One priority will be repairing the sea wall that protects the Jefferson Memorial grounds from the waters of the tidal basin. Right now, the wall is regularly submerged.

The project will be one of several funded by $50 million of stimulus money set aside for the National Mall. To some Labor Day visitors, like Billy Jo Doman, the amount seems a little extravagant.

"I think it's a good idea, but maybe not $50 million," she said. "I think it needs to come down because there are other things in the United States that need to be fixed up." More than 25 million people visit the national mall each year.

Jonathan Wilson reports...

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