Park Service Says Knife Cut Damaged Lincoln Pool Liner in $16 Million Project
Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 25
Park Service Says Knife Cut Damaged Lincoln Pool Liner in $16 Million Project
3 articles · Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 25
Summary
A June 9 Park Police complaint said a sharp knife or razor cut the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner, damaging caulk over foam sealant; about 70 fence-post tops were also thrown into the water.
The disclosure, made in a court filing late Wednesday, is the administration's first specific account of how the newly renovated pool was damaged after officials had repeatedly cited a 350-foot gash without evidence.
Interior said it delayed public notice because the incident was initially treated as isolated vandalism, but later saw recurring damage and videos of people ripping at the coating; Park Police have now posted surveillance footage.
The department says there have been 7 arrests, 7 federal citations and 18 police reports, while the Park Service plans to drain the 2,000-foot pool again after July 4 to assess and repair the liner.
The damage deepens scrutiny of Trump's rush to finish the project before the holiday, as a nonprofit seeks to halt further work and Democratic lawmakers investigate the $16 million renovation over peeling coating, algae and contracting concerns.