Park Service to limit Tidal Basin access during peak cherry blossom bloom

by Rachel Frazin - 03/23/21 6:05 PM ET

The National Park Service (NPS) said Tuesday it will limit public access to the Tidal Basin during peak bloom for Washington’s famous cherry blossoms to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Each year, massive crowds gather at the Potomac reservoir to view and take photos with the flowering pink and white blossoms.

In a statement, the park service said it will limit “all vehicular and pedestrian access to the Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park and West Potomac Park during the peak bloom period.”

“We will keep access to the trees open as long as we can, but if and when crowds reach the point that social distancing can no longer be maintained, we will close the Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park and West Potomac Park to all vehicles and pedestrians,” NPS spokesperson Mike Litterst said in an email to The Hill.

“There is a scenario where we wouldn’t have to close (if crowds don’t materialize), though that is extremely unlikely,” Litterst added.

Once the area is closed, it will remain so for the rest of peak bloom and will be monitored by police.

As of Tuesday, the federal government projects peak bloom to fall between March 26 and April 12.

Last year, NPS urged people to stay away from the area after large groups tried to view the trees despite the then-burgeoning pandemic.