A passenger’s aerial photo over Washington, DC, this week captured multiple ongoing renovations tied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the damaged White House South Lawn after the UFC Freedom 250, and a newly surfaced message on the National Mall that t
For a city used to constant ceremony and careful presentation, the scene over Washington looked unusually unfinished.
An aerial photo taken June 16 from a commercial plane descending into Washington. DC. captured several renovations in progress across the nation’s capital. The image showed the algae-ridden Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool appearing green instead of blue after a costly renovation. a damaged White House South Lawn linked to the UFC Freedom 250. and a covering on the National Mall where someone wrote “8647.” That writing prompted an investigation from the U.S. Park Police.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had been restored earlier this month by the Department of the Interior. but the result has left the water algae-green—far from the “American Flag Blue” color chosen by President Donald Trump ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary. The department said it is now working to address the algae problem. On June 17, workers were seen pouring hydrogen peroxide into the landmark to reduce the algae. As of Wednesday, parts of the pool remained green.
On the White House grounds, the repairs are moving forward on a separate track. On June 16, the White House announced that ScottsMiracle-Gro and the National Park Service would work to restore the grass after the UFC fight on June 14. The company has committed $1 million toward the project.
Around the National Mall, the focus is not on landscaping but on what appeared on the grounds. The covering with “8647” led to action from the U.S. Park Police, with the investigation tied directly to the message’s appearance.
One aerial image tied it together in the public’s eye: a commemorative milestone. a major event. and a set of repairs unfolding at the same time—without all of the finished details in place. The Department of the Interior says it is correcting the algae at the Lincoln Memorial. while the White House points to ScottsMiracle-Gro’s funding to restore the South Lawn and the Park Police investigate the written message on the National Mall.
Where matters stood after those announcements. the pool still showed green patches despite the hydrogen peroxide treatment. and the White House South Lawn restoration continued under the June 16 plan. Additional repairs tied to the National Mall’s discoloration and political message were also being sought. but the further details were not provided in the reporting request.
Washington DC renovations Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool algae green hydrogen peroxide U.S. Park Police UFC Freedom 250 White House South Lawn ScottsMiracle-Gro National Park Service American Flag Blue