world
National Guard and Park Police patrol Reflecting Pool after liner damage
Service members are monitoring the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after sections of a recently installed liner began peeling. Officials face a deadline to complete repairs before the nation's 250th anniversary events.
The IndependentAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
National Guard service members and U.S. Park Police began patrolling the deck around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday. The patrols follow reports that pieces of a new liner installed during a multi-million-dollar renovation have detached and are floating in the water.
An approximately four-foot-square section was seen partially floating last Friday, with additional pieces observed on Monday.
Renovation and algae issues The liner was part of a project costing more than $14 million that aimed to clean and resurface the pool. Within weeks of the work being declared complete, a vivid green algae bloom appeared, clouding the coating. Officials have not released details on how many people have been detained or what charges, if any, have been filed.
Detentions reported One person detained was identified as David Hearn, 67, a former Olympic canoe racer. He told The Associated Press he was held for five hours after briefly touching a peeling section of the liner. "I’m a curious citizen," Hearn stated.
"I reached down to see what it felt like. " Park Police have not responded to questions about the total number of arrests or the legal basis for any detentions related to touching the pool. Social media posts have alleged intentional damage, including a long gash and the placement of chemicals in the water, though those claims have not been substantiated by authorities.
