The National Park Service (NPS), the DC Department of General Services (DGS), the DC Office of Planning, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) are hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 6pm-8pm at the Hamilton Hotel (1001 14th Street) to present concept designs for the restoration and transformation of Franklin Park, located at 13th and I streets NW.
Members of the public are invited to attend and will have the chance to give feedback on the concept designs. Registration is not required.
The concept designs were developed based on desired uses and programs from public comments submitted to NPS and feedback received at Franklin Park community meetings.
In March 2018, DGS awarded the design and engineering contract for the renovation of Franklin Park to Studios Architecture and Land Collective.
The BID will continue to activate Franklin Park with free public programming and beautification efforts until construction breaks ground in 2019.
The BID, together with partners, hosts annual events in Franklin Park that include DowntownDC Live, Jazz in Franklin Park and Picnic in the Park. The BID also provides red tables and chairs year-round in Franklin Park.
Franklin Park is located in the center of DowntownDC in the heart of the District and at nearly 5 acres, it is Downtown’s largest park. The park is served by Metrorail, Metrobus and the DC Circulator and it sits amid a thriving commercial district and a growing residential population.
Franklin Park is a NPS property. NPS supports efforts to revitalize the park as part of its Urban Agenda and is exploring ways in which to partner with the city to achieve these goals.
A planning partnership was formed in 2012 between NPS, the District government and the DowntownDC BID to transform the park and establish sustainable maintenance and operation of the park in perpetuity.