The White House is set to reopen a portion of Lafayette Square, the public park across the street from the White House, eight months after President Donald Trump closed the park for renovations.
Workers on Monday moved back some temporary fences that since January had closed the park along H Street NW. Much of the park remained fenced off as of Monday afternoon.
A White House official said that the Secret Service was working to improve the public’s access to the park while balancing Trump’s security needs and that a public notice about more of the park being open should be posted soon.
The park’s renovations have been largely completed since the summer, but officials have kept it closed, citing security risks. The Secret Service is also pursuing a plan to build a permanent fence around the park, which is part of a push to fortify the White House grounds after Trump faced assassination attempts.
Local officials have criticized the administration’s decision to keep the park closed, saying that it has hindered the public’s access to a public space and limited the ability of protesters to exercise their First Amendment rights in front of the White House. Neighboring organizations, such as St. John’s Church, have also urged the White House to reopen the park, saying that the fences have pushed back pedestrians and protesters.
“Since the temporary fencing was installed, St. John’s has seen an increase in trash and acts of vandalism, including shopping carts thrown into landscaped areas,” the Rev. Robert W. Fisher wrote to a federal commission reviewing the administration’s proposal to build a permanent fence.
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