A contractor vehicle reportedly ran over a fountain in the German-American Friendship Garden on the National Mall, collapsing its center and cracking surrounding stones, according to Newsweek and photos by Andrew Leyden.
The damage joins other problematic renovation projects in Washington, including peeling lining at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool (repairs exceeding $16 million) and issues in a $69 million undercroft overhaul that forced removal of historical documents from a new exhibit.
A fountain in the German-American Friendship Garden on the National Mall was badly damaged after a contractor's vehicle reportedly drove over it, causing the fountain's center to collapse and surrounding stones to crack, according to a Newsweek report.
Photographs taken by photojournalist Andrew Leyden show the extent of the damage. Park officials say repairs are underway, and the site has been secured while crews assess the restoration work.
The incident comes as a series of high-profile renovation projects in Washington, D.C., associated with the Trump administration have faced scrutiny for construction problems and cost overruns. A short distance away, portions of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool began to peel shortly after work was completed.
Experts who inspected the Reflecting Pool have attributed the peeling lining to poor application of materials, while some administration officials initially suggested vandalism.
Repairs to the Reflecting Pool have already cost taxpayers more than $16 million. The pool has been drained, cordoned off with chain-link fencing, and placed under heightened surveillance while restoration continues.
Nearby, roughly $69 million in renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft have also encountered problems. The National Park Service reported difficulties maintaining suitable environmental conditions to display historical documents safely, prompting the removal of some items from the new exhibit last week.
Park authorities and contractors are conducting assessments and repairs at the German-American Friendship Garden site. Investigations into the causes of the various renovation failures remain ongoing as officials work to protect the capital's historic assets and manage costs to taxpayers.
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