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Ellipse lawn left bare after large outdoor viewing event
An aerial photo taken Friday shows the 52-acre public park nearly covered in yellow grass and dirt. The National Park Service said equipment removal from the Ellipse is scheduled by June 23, 2026.
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An aerial photograph taken Friday shows the 52-acre Ellipse nearly covered in yellow grass and dirt, with only scattered patches of green remaining. The park had hosted thousands of spectators for an outdoor viewing of a cage-fighting event on large screens the previous Sunday. The UFC estimated attendance at about 85,000 people.
Restoration plans The White House announced this week that the National Park Service and a lawn-product company will restore grass on the adjacent South Lawn. The company committed $1 million to the project, which will use a proprietary grass blend.
The announcement did not mention the Ellipse. In a court filing earlier this month, the National Park Service said it expected all equipment to be removed from the Ellipse and surrounding area by June 23, 2026.
Additional site changes Large platforms and a lighting rig remain in place on the South Lawn. The filing made no reference to lawn restoration on the Ellipse itself.
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