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Graphic panels at the Chuck Brown Memorial Park. Photo © Roy Lewis Overall view of the Chuck Brown Memorial Park. Photo © Roy Lewis
Side view of the memorial. Photo © Diego Moya
few blocks away from Langdon Park and played there as Project: Chuck Brown Memorial Park, Washington, DC
a kid, he had a strong idea of what kind of public space
would benefit the community there today. Architects: Marshall Moya Design
Landscape Architects: Bradley Site Design
Marshall Moya Design was chosen to lead the Structural Engineers: Robert Silman Associates
Chuck Brown Memorial Park project through a highly MEP Engineers: Metropolitan Engineering/Shapiro-O’Brien
selective competition held by the DC Department of Civil Engineers: Greening Urban
General Services. The selection was especially appropriate General Contractor: Broughton Construction Company
considering that Marshall Moya Design had already
completed the redesign of the Howard Theatre (featured Landscape design for the park was done in collabo-
in the Fall 2012 issue of ARCHITECTUREDC), a venue ration with landscape architect Sharon Bradley, ASLA, of
where Brown often played. The original plan for the Bradley Site Design. Bradley created sustainable rain
park called for a large amphitheater, but after strong gardens and selected plants appropriate for the area; the
opposition from the community and residents of private garden beds do not require watering because they are
houses adjacent to the park, the plan was scaled down to supported by stormwater that is managed on site. The
a memorial that could accommodate the Showmobile, a original plans included cherry blossoms surrounding the
portable stage for hosting musical events. The perma- park but they were later replaced with crape myrtle trees
nent art installation designed by local artist Jackie L. that are native to the DC area. Coincidentally, crape
Braitman shows an artistic representation of Chuck myrtles bloom in late summer, right around the time of
Brown holding a microphone outward, evoking the Chuck Brown’s birthday.
call-and-response nature of Go-Go music.
PUBLIC ART 77
