MAYOR ADRIAN M. FENTY AND THE DC COMMISSION ON THE ARTS & HUMANITIES PROVIDE ART INSTALLATION FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARK

Columbia Heights Park Ribbon Cutting
14th & Girard Street, NW
Friday July 10, 12:00 pm

Community celebration of the opening of the new 14th and Girard Park will continue on Saturday, July 11, as DPR in partnership with the Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative, will host a community celebration from 6 to 9 pm.

All are invited to come out and enjoy fun, food, and entertainment.

Washington, DC – On Friday July 10, 2009, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty along with Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham; the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities’ Executive Director, Gloria Nauden; Ximena Hartsock, DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Acting Director; will join the Columbia Heights community at the new 14th and Girard Street Park for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion and opening of DPR’s newest park.

Redevelopment of the park began with a community-driven planning and design process in spring 2007 with the goal of completely redeveloping the existing park to better serve the community. Demolition of the old park, which featured large amounts of concrete and little usable green space, began in December 2008, and construction of a completely new park began earlier this year. The DC Housing Authority provided construction management for this DPR capital improvement project.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, located just one block from the park, has joined with DPR as a community partner and will be overseeing a mural installation by a professional artist or artist team which will work with local residents and youth to design and install the work on the 750 square foot east wall of the outdoor multi-use playcourt.

“The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is proud to participate in this great project. The Commission is committed to giving every community in the District the opportunity to experience the great work that our city's artists have to offer,” said Commission Executive Director, Gloria Nauden.

The Commission has recently received applications from DC artists and arts organizations to be considered by an art selection panel comprised of representatives from the community, youth, District government agencies, and architects. The selected artist will be required to facilitate at least five workshops for a group of youth in the neighborhood to participate in the design and installation of the mural.