Maria Leaf
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The bad news: Ongoing issues with the Washington Monument Elevator are going to keep it closed for the next couple of years.
There is good news today, as funding has now been secured for those repairs.
The National Park Service says businessman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein has pledged the roughly $3 million that is need to deal with the mechanical, electrical and computer issues.
In a statement, Rubenstein said, “The monument has become a symbol of our country, and reminds everyone of the towering strengths of our first president. I am honored to help make this symbol safely accessible again to all Americans as soon as practicable.”
This isn’t the first time Rubenstein has helped to fund National Park Service projects. Over the last four years, he has donated roughly $50 million, including $7.5 million to restore the Washington Monument after the earthquake.
The Washington Monument has been closed since August after repeated breakdowns of the elevator system.
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