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America’s Mall is Becoming America’s Eyesore
America’s Mall is Becoming America’s Eyesore
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
WMAL
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Historians and civic leaders led a tour of the National Mall on Tuesday to show the efforts that are underway to clean up, repair and renovate what one noted scholar calls "America's Commons."
The Trust for the National Mall is overseeing a $700 million dollar renovation aimed at undoing decades of neglect. In many areas, statues are in desperate need of cleaning, while granite and marble walkways and stairs are cracked or chipped.
"This is the place where the mystic chords of memory play 24/7," said Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph Ellis. "This should be like a version of Mecca, where every American family plans on coming and seeing this once in their lifetimes. This should be a source of pride to Republicans and Democrats, blue states, red states, anybody," he added.
One major restoration project already underway is the rebuilding of the reflecting pool between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The pool is currently a long field of mud, an eyesore on what may be the most recognizable section of the Mall. It is scheduled to be cleaned, rebuilt and refilled by next spring.
After that, an award will be granted in a design competition for Union Square, which will also include a new reflecting pool.
"The reflecting pool that you see right in front of us is leaking into the 3rd Street tunnel," said Caroline Cunningham, president of the Trust for the National Mall. "It is a non-recirculating bathtub filled with algae and avian botulism on a hot day," she said.
Cunningham said the square and state of General Ulysses S. Grant that stand near the U.S. Capitol have not been touched since they were built in the 1970s. The bronze statue of the Civil War's general is now greenish blue from years of exposure, with green streaks running down its granite base.
About half the cost of the renovations would come from private sources but that Congress is expected to provide the rest, Ellis said.
"The National Mall needs help," said Cunningham.
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