Letter
Dear Mr. Parsons:
During its meeting of 19 May 2005, the Commission reviewed the concept design for the treatment of a proposed security perimeter for the east side of the Lincoln Memorial. The first preference of the Commission members continues to be the elimination of any visible security barriers which they consider detrimental to the experience of the Memorial.
After further consideration of the design options for the security perimeter, the Commission has voiced its support for a scheme that develops the concept of the historic rectangular plaza on the east side of the Memorial to avoid the presence of bollards near the west side of the cartway. The Commission members recommend keeping the eastern vista toward the Memorial as visually open and unobstructed as possible and studying options to eliminate or minimize the bollards entirely in the center portion of the plaza. This study should include an investigation of making the bollards retractable and locating them on a low landing of the stairway to the Reflecting Pool. As noted in previous reviews, the Commission members have recommended that the bollards should be a simple and uncomplicated design that does not complete with the columns of the Memorial; they look forward to reviewing further studies of the material, shape, and color of the bollards.
The Commission thanks the National Park Service for continuing its diligent work to develop a design that protects the dignity of this most important memorial and looks forward to further review of the project design as it progresses. As always, staff is available to provide any guidance you may require.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas Luebke, AIA
Secretary
John Parsons, Associate Regional Director
National Capital Support Office
US Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, D.C. 20242
cc: Joseph M. Lawler, Deputy Regional Director, National Capital Region
Vicki Keys, NPS
Stephen Lorenzetti, NPS
Ron Kessler, McKissack and McKissack
Walter Schaepper, McKissack and McKissack