The reflecting pool on the National Mall is shallow pool / fountain that's there to look neat. It's not intended for swimming. It's an iconic landmark that connects the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Memorial. It's been featured in all kinds of media, films, and TV for decades. Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech was there.

Trump decided that the reflecting pool needed to be painted blue like some kinds of swimming pools. He caused the government to hire "a guy he knows" without putting the contract out for normal competitive bidding.

Also, I think they're painting directly on to granite, not concrete.

There's also this shot of the President driving his motorcade of several multi-ton vehicles directly on top of the granite pool.

[–] programmer_belch@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

Lincoln memorial pool is being painted blue for repairs. Some people think it is illegal and/or looks ugly CNN

[–] grue@lemmy.world 33 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

It's not "for repairs." It is, itself, damage.

[–] midribbon_action@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 34 minutes ago

Yeah spot on. 'Granite' is a wide category of rock. The Vietnam memorial is also apparently granite, I just learned that today. It looks nothing like the reflecting pool, it's much darker, almost black. The specific types of granite, maybe even the specific quarries, was chosen by each architect for it's texture and color. Congress paid extra to keep the original granite floor while replacing everything else about it in 2009.

It will never be restored, I don't think it's possible. Our generation will have been the last to be able to see the original intended art piece.