Reflecting Pool liner cut with knife, fence posts thrown in, court filing says

A National Park Service official stated in a court filing that the liner of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor earlier this month. Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the park service, said U.S. Park Police responded to a report of damage on 9 June.

The filing described a cut through caulk over the foam sealant and destruction of delaminating surface material.

Damage details and response The same filing reported that approximately 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool. It did not state when the damage occurred or identify any individuals involved. Five people have been arrested for vandalism connected to the Reflecting Pool, and five others received federal citations, according to U.S. Park Police.

Renovation background Renovations began in April and lasted two months.

Workers drained the 2,000-foot basin and installed a tinted polyurea liner to waterproof the concrete surface. After refilling, the pool developed an algae bloom and issues with the deep blue paint added to the bottom.

Next steps The National Park Service plans to drain the pool again after Independence Day celebrations on 4 July to conduct repairs and assess the lining. The pool, built in the 1920s and stretching 2,030 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has a history of leaks, structural problems, faulty pipes, algae growth, and bird droppings.

>"The 2,000-foot-long basin was drained" and "a tinted polyurea liner" was installed in the pool to "waterproof and protect the concrete pool surface," the NPS outlined in its statement.