Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne will join National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Peggy O’Dell and partner organizations to unveil new and enhanced visitor services on the National Mall in time for the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival.
Approximately one million visitors are expected in Washington for the 16-day run of the 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival. The National Park Service and partner organizations responsible for the Festival have been working to provide the best possible visitor services to ensure all visitors have a great and memorable experience.
New this year, the NPS and partner organizations will have two Welcome Areas for visitor information, food, gifts, and book sales. The NPS will announce the new “Blossom Shuttle” to free parking. “Paddles the Beaver,” will make an appearance during the press conference. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs Saturday, March 29th through Sunday, April 13th, 2008.
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne Mary Bomar, Director, National Park Service Peggy O’Dell, Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks Diana Mayhew, President, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. |
| What: | Press Conference to announce details of new and enhanced visitor services |
| When: | 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2008 (Press conference occurs rain or shine) |
| Where: | Tidal Basin Welcome Area Maine Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Place S.W. Washington, D.C. |
| Media: | News media are invited to cover the press conference at the Tidal Basin parking lot. Assigned parking will be available on site for news media vehicles and uplink trucks. Media are requested to pre-set by 9:30 a.m. If there are any questions, please call 202-359-0320. |