background KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL REPAIRS AS OF MAY 23, 1997         Since its dedication, it has become apparent that several features of the Korean War Veterans Memorial need modification and enhancement. By way of information, the American Battle Monuments Commission was authorized in 1986 by Public Law 99-620 to erect the memorial with private funds. The American Battle Monuments Commission and its construction agent, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have been working to repair existing problems and further enhance visitor safety at the memorial, which became a unit of the National Park System at the July 27, 1995 dedication.         On February 4, 1997, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) committed $100,000 to fund repairs. ABMC also initiated monthly meetings with the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service which operates the memorial, to address lighting, landscaping, safety, settlement of the paving stones and proper pool operations. The meetings, which began in December 1996, are chaired by Major General John P. Herrling, USA (Ret), ABMC Secretary.         ABMC and the Army Corps are also working with Cooper Lecky Architects which provided primary architectural and engineering design services for the memorial. Safety issues being worked on include modifications to the drainage channel in front of the black granite wall; improved lighting for increased safety at night; roughing some of the polished stone to reduce the possibility of slipping; and the possible addition of handrails around the dedication stone.         Redesign of the tree grove area, to include improved lighting and walkways, is underway and will permit replacement of the 40 linden trees and paving stones. Preliminary indications are that the loss of the trees and the problems with the paving stones may have resulted from the initial design. ABMC projects that this work will not be completed until sometime next year.         In the interim, a gravel-like surface, similar to that used in other areas of the mall, has been installed to temporarily replace the paving stones. The National Park Service has provided interim lighting pending redesign of the tree grove area.         The original lighting design, while effective to achieve artistic intent, did not provide adequate lighting. The Corps of Engineers has been conducting lighting tests to determine the appropriate levels of lighting required for visitor safety.         The Korean War Veterans Memorial continues to attract several thousand visitors daily. The total number of visitors estimated for 1996 was 860,000.         The memorial is located near the Lincoln Memorial on the south side of the reflecting pool at Independence Avenue and Daniel French Drive. The design includes 19 sculptures of soldiers arrayed before a black granite wall etched with a mural based on wartime photographs of armament and support personnel. At the heart of the memorial, an American flag and "pool of remembrance" was enclosed by two concentric rings of linden trees which have since been removed.         Artistic credit for the memorial goes to Cooper-Lecky, architects; Frank C. Gaylord, II, sculptor and Louis Nelson Associates, muralists. The memorial cost $18 million in privately donated funds.         --nps-- 5/23/97 KWVM-REP.BGD