Plans call for painting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool basin American flag blue. The reflecting pool is 2,030 feet long and 170 feet wide and has historically used an achromatic basin so the water can mirror surrounding views. The Cultural Landscape Foundation sued the Trump administration, claiming the blue paint application violates federal law. The pool and other National Mall structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which triggers legal protections and requires compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 requires consulting stakeholders and the public before proceeding with changes. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to stop work already underway.
"Last month, President Donald Trump announced plans to paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool "American flag blue." At 2,030 feet long and 170 feet wide, the iconic pool has historically featured an achromatic basin, allowing for the water to serve as a mirror to its surroundings. The president's proposal will alter the look and meaning of the historic monument."
"In the lawsuit announced on May 11, the foundation claims the "application of blue paint to the basin of [the] Reflecting Pool on the National Mall is being done in violation of federal law." The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as well as other structures on the National Mall, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which gives them specific legal protections."
"Any proposed change, including modifying the pool basin's color, is subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which mandates consulting with stakeholders and the public before proceeding. "These are the legal ways to avoid, minimize, and mitigate any adverse effects," Charles A. Birnbaum, president and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, tells Fast Company. "The government is not doing that.""
"With the lawsuit, filed against the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, the organization seeks a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to stop the work, which is already underway. To be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, a space must fit specific criteria, including nonphysical attributes like feeling and cultural association. Birnbaum says changing the reflecting pool's color impacts the qualities that helped it land on the list in the first place."
#historic-preservation #national-mall #lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool #federal-law #cultural-landscape-foundation
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