John Deere Donates Equipment for National Mall

The company that makes John Deere tractors is donating more than $400,000 worth of equipment to maintain the turf and grounds of the National Mall.

Deere & Co. officials are announcing the gift Friday to the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall. Officials say it's an early celebration of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, which is organized to care for national parks.

The donated equipment includes alternative fuel mowers and maintenance equipment to care for newly restored sections of turf on the National Mall. Additional turf restoration is set to begin in 2014.

In a statement, Caroline Cunningham of the Trust for the National Mall said the gift will help protect the National Park Service's efforts to restore the most-visited national park.