The Lincoln Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. has incurred another six-figure sum for repairs, with the Department of the Interior awarding a $682,000 contract to Persimmon Grove LLC to replace the attraction's valves. This latest expenditure brings the total cost for the pool's ongoing maintenance and repair efforts to over $15 million.
The contract with Persimmon Grove LLC, a Virginia-based company, is set to run from September 10th to October 15th. The work involves replacing pumps and compressors, as the pool's water valves were described as "falling apart" by the Interior Department. Persimmon Grove LLC is owned by William Phillips, whose family has a history of securing federal contracts for site maintenance.
This is not the first significant contract awarded for work around the Reflecting Pool. In April, the company received $488,000 for repairing and cleaning the adjacent Constitution Gardens Lake, which was drained in preparation for the 250th-anniversary celebrations of America.
The ongoing issues with the Lincoln Reflecting Pool have drawn attention since a repainting effort by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a firm chosen by the Trump administration, led to paint peeling and algae growth within days. Originally, the repainting project was estimated to cost $1.8 million, but Atlantic Industrial Coatings is now slated to receive $14.7 million under a no-bid contract.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings has since admitted to errors in the application of the paint, citing "human oversight" and the use of incompatible chemicals. This admission followed earlier claims by President Trump that vandals were responsible for the damage. Several individuals were charged with felony vandalism, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, but the charges were dropped after prosecutors acknowledged the damage stemmed from a "botched" renovation.
The Interior Department stated that in addition to the repair of equipment, the contractor is also replacing sections of the pool lining damaged by alleged vandalism, such as "long razor-blade gashes," and damage from individuals reaching into the pool and ripping at the coating. The department emphasized that repairs are standard for large construction projects, especially when undertaken under pressure for an event like the 250th celebrations, and that contractors return to ensure work is perfect.
