Trump-hosted events leave Washington’s lawns scarred, prompting costly repairs

Extensive turf damage has been documented across Washington, D.C., after Donald Trump’s high-profile events, including a July 4 extravaganza and a UFC fan celebration, left large areas of the National Mall and surrounding parks brown and uneven. The National Park Service identified wear, soil compaction and loss of grass as causes, and has shut down sections of the Mall until January 24 for a major rehabilitation that includes irrigation repairs, aeration, seeding, sodding and fertilization.

The deterioration has also hurt local tourism, with a Washington Photo Safari founder reporting a 50 percent drop in bookings. Scotts Miracle-Gro, a lawn-care company that contributed half-a-million dollars to a pro-Trump PAC, pledged $1 million to restore the South Lawn using a grass mix chosen by Trump, and plans to supply turf for additional park areas.