Case: Cultural Landscape Foundation v. Department of the Interior

1:26-cv-01593 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: May 11, 2026

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

On May 11, 2026, Plaintiffs - a nonprofit educational organization aimed at promoting informed stewardship of historic designed landscapes - filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Plaintiffs sought to enjoin Defendants from refinishing the National Mall's iconic reflecting pool from grey tiling to swimming pool blue leading up to the United States' 250th anniversary. Filing under the Administrative Procedure Act, the complaint asked that the court set aside any agency approval of the resurfacing and enjoin Defendants from continuing the project until Plaintiffs have been allowed to engage in Section 106 consultation.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73321580/parties/cultural-landscape-foundation-v-us-department-of-the-interior/


Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Kristofcak, Alexander (District of Columbia)

Mead, Joseph Wilfred (District of Columbia)

Zelinsky, Nathaniel Avi (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Heise, John Karl (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-01593

Complaint

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73321580/cultural-landscape-foundation-v-us-department-of-the-interior/

Last updated May 13, 2026, 7:54 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against JESSICA BOWRON, DOUG BURGUM, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12412240) filed by THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION, CHARLES A. BIRNBAUM. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons DOI, # 3 Summons Burgum, # 4 Summons NPS, # 5 Summons Bowron, # 6 Summons USAO-DC, # 7 Summons DOJ)(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Attachment 1 replaced on 5/11/2026) (znmw). (Entered: 05/11/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons DOI

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3 Summons Burgum

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4 Summons NPS

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5 Summons Bowron

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6 Summons USAO-DC

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7 Summons DOJ

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May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order, MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, MOTION to Stay Pursuant to Section 705 by CHARLES A. BIRNBAUM, THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Charles A. Birnbaum, # 2 Exhibit A: April 27, 2026, email from Wennerstrom to Stidham, # 3 Exhibit B: May 5, 2026, email from Wennerstrom to Stidham, # 4 Exhibit C: May 7-8, 2026, email exchange between Wennerstrom and Loichinger, # 5 Declaration of James Garland)(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

1 Declaration of Charles A. Birnbaum

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2 Exhibit A: April 27, 2026, email from Wennerstrom to Stidham

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3 Exhibit B: May 5, 2026, email from Wennerstrom to Stidham

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4 Exhibit C: May 7-8, 2026, email exchange between Wennerstrom and Loichinger

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5 Declaration of James Garland

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May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

RECAP
3

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE as to Jessica Bowron filed by THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION, CHARLES A. BIRNBAUM.(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

4

NOTICE of Appearance by Joseph Wilfred Mead on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Mead, Joseph) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

RECAP
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Alexander Kristofcak on behalf of CHARLES A. BIRNBAUM, THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION (Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

6

SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

7

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by CHARLES A. BIRNBAUM, CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION re 1 Complaint, 2 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order MOTION for Preliminary Injunction MOTION to Stay Pursuant to Section 705 and Notice of TRO to Opposing Party. (Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

8

NOTICE of Appearance by John Karl Heise on behalf of All Defendants (Heise, John) (Entered: 05/11/2026)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (znmw)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

MINUTE ORDER. In light of Plaintiffs' 2 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order, it is hereby ORDERED that by 5:00 pm EDT on May 12, 2026, the Parties shall meet, confer, and file a Joint Status Report addressing the following issues: (1) a proposed briefing schedule for the 2 Motion; (2) a statement addressing whether a hearing on the 2 Motion is necessary, and if so, a proposed date and time for such a hearing; and (3) a statement addressing whether the Parties anticipate factual disputes between affiants. The Parties may also address any other issues that they believe will be helpful to the Court. Any disagreements should be noted in the Joint Status Report. Plaintiffs shall notify counsel for Defendants of the contents of this Minute Order. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 5/11/2026. (lccjn1)

May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026

9

NOTICE of Appearance by Nathaniel Avi Gideon Zelinsky on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Zelinsky, Nathaniel) (Entered: 05/12/2026)

May 12, 2026

May 12, 2026

10

Status Report

May 12, 2026

May 12, 2026

RECAP

~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

May 12, 2026

May 12, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 11, 2026

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01593

Recommended Citation