DC National Mall Called A "Disgrace"

[Sporin]

I saw a piece on CBS Sunday Morning about this, I had no idea what a shambles the place is.

Wire Politics - In a city that treasures its past, the National Mall has become a monument to neglect - sacbee.com

In a city that treasures its past, the National Mall has become a monument to neglect
By DAVID GOLDSTEIN - McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- "America's front yard" needs a cleanup crew. Several million in cash would help, too.

From afar, the National Mall, the majestic expanse of parkland from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial looks postcard-perfect. But don't get too close.

The famous Reflecting Pool is stagnant and full of muck. The lawns are flattened in places and just patches of dust. The sidewalks are cracked, the walking paths are crumbling and public restrooms need repairs.

The seawall near the Jefferson Memorial is sinking, although the monument itself is safe.

"I don't know if any of you have been down to the Mall lately," John Akridge, who heads a Mall fundraising group, told Congress in May. "It's a disgrace. It's in a state of disrepair. The park service cannot do it alone."

The Mall will play host Friday for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display. But it needs $350 million in improvements, the National Park Service says.

That's small potatoes compared with the $6 billion the Park Service needs to tackle a backlog of repairs at nearly 400 other sites around the country.

The problem? The agency has only $12 million for maintenance.

Fixing the seawall alone could cost $20 million, spokesman Bill Line said. The work is crucial because it keeps water inside the Tidal Basin and off Jefferson's feet and the tourist-magnet Japanese cherry trees.

Line said the wall is "well over 100 years old. Nothing lasts forever."

Certainly not on the Mall, which gets a workout.

Twenty-five million visitors arrive each year. That's more than see the Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon national parks combined.

To tourists, the problems are obvious. {continues. . . with lots of pictures.}

[beaufort-fj60]

Fixing the seawall alone could cost $20 million, spokesman Bill Line said. The work is crucial because it keeps water inside the Tidal Basin and off Jefferson's feet and the tourist-magnet Japanese cherry trees.


meh.. the cherry trees would be dead as a doornail if the brackish water intruded the soil.



I bet that green gook is from fertilize.. someone needs to fine the government for pollution in the pond.

[Jman]

Yup. That's certainly a high-traffic area, each square foot of green space probably sees a multiple in terms of foot traffic compared to NYC Central Park during a summer. But, I think essentially being a ward of Congress, the parks don't receive adequate supervision.

[LukeO]

Based on the news this morning I think your mall money just went to Iraq, Afghanistan and potentially to Iran too.





Rome is growing again.

[IronYuppy]

This looks like a job for.... HALIBURTON!

[fsusteve]

Originally Posted by LukeO

Based on the news this morning I think your mall money just went to Iraq, Afghanistan and potentially to Iran too.





Rome is growing again.

W was here last week for some fundraiser. I had a meeting with some of the Secret Service guys prior to his arrival over some logistics. One of the meets I had was with the haz mat guy that travels with Bush, he said that they used to have a five man response team travel with him and they had a large box truck full of equipment just in case they had to decon the Prez on scene, but now they're down to two guys and a pick up truck. I asked why that is, he said all expendable funds are being funneled into the war chest........

[IronYuppy]

Originally Posted by fsusteve

...he said that they used to have a five man response team travel with him and they had a large box truck full of equipment just in case they had to decon the Prez on scene, but now they're down to two guys and a pick up truck. I asked why that is, he said all expendable funds are being funneled into the war chest........

That is funny on so many levels it may take some real time to comprehend them all. I'm talking months.

[fsusteve]

Originally Posted by IronYuppy

That is funny on so many levels it may take some real time to comprehend them all. I'm talking months.

the funny part was when I asked him how he liked his job and he gave me a