Shut Down National Christmas Tree Re-Lighted Thanks To Private Donors

A metaphor for the US economy: charitable foundations and private donors step in as current Administration abdicates responsibility to make a political point with which few agree. JL


Eli Watkins reports in CNN:

The National Park Foundation announced that the site of the National Christmas Tree in Washington was reopening after a closure tied to the government shutdown. Support from the National Park Service's charitable foundation allowed the site to reopen on Christmas Eve."The National Park Foundation and hundreds of local philanthropic organizations and other park partners are working to help ensure all people have access to our treasured national parks." Opening the tree site costs $1,470 per day

The National Park Foundation announced on Monday that the site of the National Christmas Tree in Washington was reopening after a brief closure tied to the government shutdown.

The National Christmas Tree, in President's Park outside the White House, sustained damage after a man climbed it on Friday evening.

The National Park Foundation said in its statement Monday that the site was closed after the climbing and had remained closed because of the partial government shutdown. But support from the National Park Service's charitable foundation allowed the site to reopen on Christmas Eve.

"The National Park Foundation and hundreds of local philanthropic organizations and other park partners are always working to help ensure all people have access to our treasured national parks," read a statement from Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation.

Opening the tree site costs $1,470 per day and the tree's lights will be on from dusk until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the lights will remain on until 11 p.m.

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However, the star on the tree was damaged by the man who climbed it and cannot be repaired during the shutdown, so it will remain unlit until it can be repaired.

The President's Park website said the park itself would remain accessible through the shutdown, although Park Service facilities and the White House Visitor Center would stay closed.