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First lady Melania Trump has made renovations and restorations in the rooms of the White House. This time, she plans on restoring and renovating a popular space over the past few weeks, the White House Rose Garden.
A statement from the White House reveals that Melania will start restoring and renovating the Rose Garden in the summer. The plans reveal an improved version of its original design that was implemented in 1962 by Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon during John F. Kennedy’s administration. The final design is a collaboration between two landscape architecture firms; Perry Guillot, Inc and Oehme, van Sweden & Associates/OvS.
The Rose Garden will be going back to its 1962 roots but with better drainage, better infrastructure, and an improved environment for plants that lower the risk of leaf blight. It will also include accessibility for people with disabilities, utilities, and support for audiovisual and broadcasting needs. The entire project is supported by the National Park Service and funded through private donations.
“The very act of planting a garden involves hard work and hope in the possibility of a bright future. Preserving the history and beauty of the White House and its grounds is a testament to our nation’s commitment to the care of this landscape and our dedication to American ideals, safeguarding them for our children and their children for generations to come,” said Melania in the statement.
Aside from taking on the restoration and renewal of the Rose Garden, Melania also participated in a virtual roundtable with the Foster Youth Intern Group under the Congressional Coalition of Adoption Institutes or CCAI. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson and other Trump administration officials were also present during the roundtable with 12 foster youth interns.
Melania has previously discussed the importance of an improved child welfare system and was even present during the executive order that was signed regarding the system. The first lady asked the interns how the government’s executive branch can provide better support for foster families and most especially foster children.
The interns then detailed their policy suggestions, stressing the importance of more funding from Congress as well as better access to technology and broadband services, transitional housing, and more access for social workers. This especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
