Lincoln Memorial Pool Renovation Completed
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's $14.2 million renovation is complete, featuring a new blue color and sparking mixed public reactions.
Atlas Newsdesk ·
Lincoln Memorial Pool Renovation Completed
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. completed a $14.2 million renovation on June 7, resulting in a resurfaced, blue-colored pool. This project, initiated under a no-bid contract, aimed to restore the historic landmark, which holds significant symbolic value.
The renovation, which involved resurfacing and painting the pool an "American flag blue" color, concluded with the addition of 6.75 million gallons of fresh water. Despite the completion, initial public reactions have been mixed regarding the aesthetic outcome. The project's cost escalated significantly from an initial estimate of $1.8 million to its final $14.2 million.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the contracting process. The no-bid contract was awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings Ltd., a company that previously worked on a golf resort owned by former President Trump and reportedly had no prior government contracting experience. Additionally, algae was observed in the pool days after its refilling, which the U.S. Department of the Interior attributed to residual algae from dormant supply lines, stating it was part of a normal startup process for the 104-year-old pool, now equipped with a nanobubbler filtration system.