The National Park Service has formally denied the City of Alexandria’s request to construct a flood mitigation pump station in Waterfront Park, halting a central component of the city’s long‑term plan to address chronic flooding along the Potomac River waterfront.
The decision follows a letter sent by the National Park Service to City Manager James Parajon dated Feb. 20, 2026. In the letter, NPS stated it would not support the deed modifications required to allow construction of the proposed facility, determining that the pump station would be an “impermissible use” of the park.
Waterfront Park, located between King and Prince streets in Old Town, is subject to deed restrictions stemming from a 1981 settlement between the City of Alexandria and the federal government. Under that agreement, the park must remain an open‑space public park in perpetuity, with only limited park‑related structures permitted and a strict height restriction on any buildings. NPS cited those binding restrictions in its decision to deny the city’s request.
“Protecting the Park from being turned into a stormwater storage site has been our top priority since we heard about it nearly two years ago,” said Yvonne Callahan, president of the Old Town Civic Association in announcing the decision of the NPS.
According to organizers against the proposal, the fact that construction of a pump station in the park is prohibited by law was raised repeatedly with every member of City Council, the Mayor and the City Manager.
Hundreds of residents spent thousands of hours getting signatures on petitions, including holding a “Paws for Pause” petition signing event in the park in September.
“We should have never had to spend so much time and effort fighting a terrible proposal that has been clearly illegal since 1981,” said one resident.
City officials had proposed building a two‑story pump station in the park as part of the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project, which was intended to address frequent flooding affecting public spaces and nearby streets, including King Street, Prince Street, The Strand, and Union Street. The pump station was described by city staff as a long‑term solution to increasing flood events driven by tidal activity and rising river levels.
The $145 million project would have closed Waterfront Park and Point Lumley Park until 2028 while the seawall was renovated and a pump station was built.
The proposal had been the subject of sustained opposition from some residents and business owners in Old Town, who raised concerns about the size, location, and visual impact of the structure within one of the city’s most prominent public spaces. A Waterfront Alliance organization was formed and urged the city to consider alternative locations, including an existing vacant office building at 1 Prince Street. In late 2025, the city paused the project to study that alternative site.
While the denial effectively blocks construction within Waterfront Park, city leaders have said they will continue evaluating other flood mitigation options and locations that comply with federal restrictions.