US National Park Service backs Trump arch despite impact on historic landmarks

The US National Park Service supported the site and scale proposed by President Donald Trump for a Triumphal Arch about 250 feet tall, planned to be built near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. At the same time, the agency acknowledged that the structure would have an adverse effect on historic sites and view corridors in the Washington area, CNBC Top News reports.

Impact on historic views

In a report released on Friday, the service said that the Triumphal Arch would continue the historic concept of a monumental entrance, create a compositional focal point, and mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. It is proposed to be located at Memorial Circle, a roundabout near the main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

The federal agency identified adverse effects on dozens of historic sites, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and other landmarks. This does not concern physical damage to the structures, but changes to landscapes, panoramas, and visual connections between iconic sites.

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Arguments over size and location

The National Park Service believes that moving the arch to another location could reduce or avoid some of the adverse effects associated with Memorial Circle. At the same time, according to the agency's conclusion, this would sever the project's connection with the historic urban-planning concept that served as the basis for choosing this location.

The service also said that smaller versions of the arch would obstruct the historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery more strongly. According to the agency's assessment, the proposed structure would partially preserve this view through its central opening. According to the report, more than 100,000 public comments were received during the initial consultations in June, and another 6,254 during the reopened period in July.