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Group aims to redo neglected site on National Mall

By WTOP Staff

BRETT ZONGKER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lakeside gardens, model boats and fine dining overlooking the nation’s monuments could one day redefine a site on the National Mall that has languished for years with fetid water, dying fish and crumbling walkways.

After holding a design competition to improve spaces on the mall in 2011, the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall selected the little-known Constitution Gardens for a major rehabilitation over the next five years, officials with the group told The Associated Press. Designers are still refining the concept but are developing an ambitious project whose budget totals about $150 million.

What is now an algae-filled 3-foot-deep concrete tub of water that gets so hot fish die each year would be re-engineered as a natural lake up to 12 feet deep, surrounded by vegetation and walking paths. A shallow water ring on one end could be versatile for activities including boating and ice skating.

Designers say such plans will reactive a spot between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial that’s been forgotten in recent decades, even though it’s part of the most-visited national park. Organizers imagine it could become more like the waterside respites of New York’s Central Park. The project was prioritized over building a grassy new amphitheater and pavilions near the Washington Monument.

“With Constitution Gardens, obviously the need is just so great that there was no denying we needed to try and get this one built as soon as we could,” said Teresa Durkin, the project director.

“People need a place to decompress” after visiting Washington’s museums and monuments, she said, “and have a little fun and be in a beautiful place.”

On Thursday, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, one of two federal panels that must approve projects on the National Mall, voted to approve the initial garden concept. Commissioners said they would like to see the work completed as soon as possible.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell touted the project at a summer fundraising luncheon and said the project can’t be completed without private support due to federal budget constraints.

“To give it the kind of lift that it needs is going to require private philanthropy,” she told the AP. “We need a pond where the fish don’t die every year.”

Unlike most national park projects, construction will be privately funded through a major fundraising campaign. The project will be managed by the nonprofit group then handed over to the National Park Service.

The gardens were originally dedicated in 1976 to mark the nation’s bicentennial. A small memorial was added later to honor the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. In the past 20 years, though, the garden has fallen into disrepair.

Landscape architects who have studied the site call it dysfunctional. Beyond the pool where fish can’t survive, walkways are crumbling and the soil is so poor that trees planted less than 40 years ago are already stunted or suffering.

This end of the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, was once under the Potomac River. In the late 1800s, landfill soil was dredged from the river and mixed with construction rubble to extend the park.

The project would be built in two phases. By 2016, the group aims to complete an entry plaza, garden wall, event plaza and rehabilitation of a historic lockkeeper’s house on the edge of the park to serve as an exhibit center. That would allow time to raise money to rebuild the lake and gardens with remixed soil and add a pavilion with a restaurant, observation deck and concessions by 2018 or 2019. Revenue from food sales and other activities could fund the park’s maintenance.

“There isn’t anything like that on the National Mall right now,” Durkin said. “Wouldn’t it be divine to be able to sit here with the lake in front of you at night, lit up, and the Washington Monument behind you? It’s absolutely beautiful.”

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Trust for the National Mall: http://nationalmall.org/

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Follow Brett Zongker at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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