Trump reopens Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, announces new Washington projects

US President Donald Trump announced the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after repairs and outlined further construction plans for Washington including a triumphal arch with military capabilities and a walkway to the Potomac RiverSpeaking with the Lincoln Memorial behind him Trump said workers had replaced ageing pipes repaired leaks and resurfaced the pool He presented the renovation as part of a wider effort to restore monuments and public spaces across the American capital ldquoBut today Im thrilled to announce the official opening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolrdquo he saidTrump briefly joked about naming it the Trump Reflecting Pool then immediately said he was kidding He praised Interior Secretary Doug Burgum the National Park Service the US Park Police and construction workers for completing the workThe president said the pool had opened temporarily for celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence before closing again for further repairs Workers subsequently replaced pipes that he described as old and in poor conditionHe said the renovation included 330000 square feet of protective coating repairs to joints and work on surrounding granite The bottom was resurfaced in dark blue to improve its reflective appearance he addedTrump also described damage to the pool lining and nearby lawns which he attributed to vandals He said damaged grass had been replaced and more cameras installed He urged the Park Police to watch the site closelyldquoBut this project should be a project that unites all Americansrdquo he said ldquoIt should be something were very proud ofrdquo Trump criticised earlier administrations over the poolrsquos condition and claimed his administration had completed the work for a fraction of their spending He did not give a total cost for the latest renovation in the supplied remarksBurgum described the reflecting pool as an extension of the Lincoln Memorial and a physical link between the memorial and the Washington Monument He thanked park workers contractors and preservation crews for their role in restoring sites across the cityTurning to future projects Trump said his administration was seeking final approval for a triumphal arch military complex at the circle near Arlington BridgeHe said the proposed structure would include drone capabilities elevated platforms and storage space He also referred to sniper or shooter capabilities but provided no detailed explanation of how those features would operate Trump compared the design with the Arc de Triomphe in Paris saying the Washington structure would be about 20 per cent largerHe also announced plans for a whitestone promenade linking the area behind the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac He described it as a walkway that would restore access interrupted by roads Separately Trump said work had begun on a National Garden of American Heroes with plans for between 250 and 500 statues Lists of people to be honoured were still being drawn up he saidHe proposed renovating a nearby golf course to championship standards while keeping it open to the public Washington residents would receive a substantial discount he said His remarks did not include completion dates or detailed budgets for those projectsThe Lincoln Memorial honours Abraham Lincoln the 16th US president who led the country during the Civil War Dedicated in 1922 the memorial stands at the western end of the National MallThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever