Repairs to Meridian Hill Parks’ west retaining wall on 16th Street NW begin July 12. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Starting Monday, July 12, the National Park Service will begin repairs on the 35-foot-high retaining wall at Meridian Hill Park that borders northbound 16th Street NW near Crescent Place Drive. Work is expected to be completed in approximately three month. The walls and park’s 13 fountains are constructed with concrete aggregate, a new material at the time.

A portion of the northbound lanes of 16th Street will be closed near the bus stop on the northbound side of 16th Street and the resulting traffic shift will provide two lanes in both directions at all times. There will be no parking along southbound 16th Street in the work area. Pedestrian traffic on the east side of 16th Street will be restricted during the working hours of Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 5 pm.

Also known as Malcolm X Park, Meridian Hill Park covers 12 ares and is bounded by 15th, W, 16th and Euclid Streets NW and is officially part of Rock Creek Park. Design work on the park began in 1914 and it was given park status in 1936.