Challenges with Reflecting Pool Renovation at Lincoln Memorial

Efforts by the National Park Service to clean algae from the Reflecting Pool have hit a snag. The new ‘American flag blue’ coating is peeling, creating a mix with acid green algae.

Initially, the fresh paint job appeared uneven. An algae bloom then turned the water a striking green. Now, chunks of the coating are falling away, leaving patches of blue and green in a murky mix.

The Reflecting Pool, located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, underwent a renovation project instigated by President Trump. This project aimed to reseal and repaint the pool’s concrete basin. Completed just before the nation’s 250th birthday, the upgrade has become problematic for the administration.

The Interior Department announced on social media that the algae, exacerbated by the heat and humidity, had been eliminated. The posts displayed images of deep blue waters reflecting the Washington Monument, countering criticism that the pool’s appearance remained flawed without addressing deeper issues unsolved by prior administrations.

Yet by Friday afternoon, the water was still murky with algae clumps, despite vigorous scrubbing by Park Service staff. Also, noticeably missing were two large sections of the new coating. In one area, a sheet of several inches peeled away, exposing the original concrete basin beneath.

Visitor Alex Hobe, 52, noticed a chipped piece of the pool’s paint. Working nearby as a food delivery driver, he decided to check out the renovations and found the chip floating. Hobe described the chip as semitransparent and rough.