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80

[[underlined]] Status Reports [[/underlined]]

The Secretary stated that the following had been sent to the Board of Regents in advance of the meeting. 

[[underlined]] Traffic and Parking on the Mall [[/underlined]]

The proposal of the National Park Service to redevelop the Mall for the Bicentennial commemoration has caused concern on the part of the Smithsonian principally because of the proposed restriction on automobile parking without adequate replacement parking and because of proposed restrictions on automobile traffic on the Mall. Also, other concerns have been encountered.

The earlier bans proposed to eliminate all parking, with replacement by bus transportation to Kennedy Stadium with parking there, and to eliminate all traffic on Mall drives have now been modified substantially.

The National Capital Planning Commission has responded to our presentations of the essentiality of the Mall to the Smithsonian complex of museums and galleries. It has requested that the National Park Service fully coordinate their proposed construction schedule for the redevelopment with the Smithsonian, complete with provisions to alleviate visitor parking displacement. Other problems, including the loading of school and charter buses with safety, access to museums, food service, and similar necessities and amenities are being discussed constructively with the Park Service.

We are continuing to press forcefully to assure that the practical requirements of the Smithsonian museums and the millions of visitors received annually are accommodated equally as well as the aesthetics of the architectural design of the Mall.