The Spring 2025 project will now focus solely on the Langdon Rec Center mural; we’ll put the Woodridge Library mural on the backburner for now, while I focus on pushing DDOT Curbside Management Division on provisioning new ADA spaces on Hamlin. The page will be updated soon.
tl;dr
- A group of neighbors led by Rachel Deussom is dedicating their time and skills to create a mural in front of Langdon Rec Center under DDOT’s Arts in the Right-of-Way (AROW) program, which actively encourages such installations
- These activations have a number of benefits, including placemaking and safety improvements
- I’m seeking ANC 5C support for both the public space permitting, as well as ANC 5C funding for materials to actuate the murals; I have so far only received public space permitting support
- Opposition to funding comes from concerns that we need more formalization to our project funding intake before we can spend down ANC 5C’s accumulated $140k in funds.
- While I’ll continue attempting to mitigate these concerns, the project is also seeking alternative funding as I’m not sure the funding concerns will be sorted out anytime soon.
mural location
The proposal is to paint “Closed Roadway” mural. The project would add paint to the asphalt within permissible areas per DDOT’s standards, and would not permanently alter the existing flexpost installations in any physical way beyond paint on asphalt.
in front of Langdon Rec Center
The Langdon Park Community Center is located at 2901 20th St NE, fronting 20th St NE where it bisects Langdon Park (also known in whole or part as Chuck Brown Memorial Park).
The Langdon Park Crossing, a raised crosswalk with curb extension and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons
As of April 2024, a raised crosswalk surrounded by flexpost curb extension connects Langdon Park across 20th St NE here. My own advocacy for this improvement dates back to years before I was Commissioner, though I’ve spoken neighbors fighting for vertical mitigations here for decades. The urgency was highlighted after a February 2023 crash here killed 22-year-old Andy Cariño.
designs
version 1.0 designs
The initial designs were first made available on February 21, 2025, and an accompanying survey yielded 122 responses before closing on March 24, 2025. Survey responses included many pieces of constructive and concurring advice advice. 25 respondents indicated a desire to contribute going forward, and all of them were added to the distro for the two subsequent Design Review meetings. Videos of the meeting are available below under Meeting History
Langdon Rec mural concept, version 1.0
The rec center designs honor Chuck Brown, to whom there is a memorial nearby. The library designs honor community-selected books.
Woodridge Library mural concept, version 1.0
version 1.2 designs
A version 1.2 set of designs were shared with the design volunteering team ahead of two Design Review meetings held on March 27th (virtual) and March 29th (hybrid at Woodridge Library).
version 1.4 designs
Version 1.4 will be presented at the 5C07 SMD meeting on 4/2.
approval process
As it stands, I’m planning to move forward with two votes in ANC 5C before proceeding to public space permitting, with the next opportunity at our April 10th meeting:
- a motion to support the public space permitting: DDOT requires “ANC support” for individuals pursuing AROW permitting; at present, this would be an unaffiliated group, and I’m interpreting this requirement to mean Commission support and not just Commissioner support. Should we fail to secure this support, volunteers might need to organize under a new or existing organization to proceed
- a motion to finance the project: The estimated cost of this project sits at $2,500. It is a permissible expense on which 5C can spend some of its ~$135,000 in savings (with around ~$20k coming in annually). Should 5C not provide financing, alternative funding sources would be needed.
With that support or with alternatives on one or both bullets, the next major step would be submission of the public space permitting application, which is governed by DDOT’s policies and processes. DDOT and other agency reviewers may come back and request changes.
The goal is to install in Spring 2025.
concerns
This project remains controversial, even after reducing scope from what originally also included a mural in front of Woodridge Library. I’ll attempt to summarize and respond to some of the concerns raised.
about my involvement or characterizing this project as a “done deal”
I do not have “done deal” in my vocabularly; things in this town are done once they’re done and critically at risk until then, especially when they depend on volunteer labor. I would also never mischaracterize Full-Commission or Public Space permitting approvals that had not yet occurred.
As with so many things, there continues to be some confusion on the role of Commissioner and how representative democracy works in general. While I engage in many avenues of public outreach, I am not legally bound to do so; only politically. None of the body of governing documents for ANCs generally or ANC 5C specifically have a concept of a “Single Member District meeting” or otherwise prescribe any particular methods of outreach.
I believe moving forward with these murals is true to the platform on which I was elected and the oath of office I swore, and do not anticipate changing my mind absent compelling arguments beyond the stated positions of those able to make it to any given meeting.
I’m proud to have been a supporter of this concept since inception. As I’m neither a designer nor a painter, I have had virtually no feedback or involvement in the design process, but am happy to lead on ushering the project through ANC 5C and subsequent permitting matters, and this is what I plan to continue doing.
about the curb extensions or further modifying them
Concerns have been raised about the benefits of the new curb extension installs, and also that the mural projects may in some way modify. The proposal is only to add paint to the asphalt; all flexposts and quick-kurb will remain in the existing placement once the project is completed.
It is no secret that I have been a strong advocate for both installations for many years, and I firmly believe both installations are a significant improvement to the safety of all roadway users. While I’m always happy to discuss that, it’s not directly at subject. If you have specific concerns about the curb extensions, I can add them here with responses.
about whether this is a good use of money
Concerns have been raised about whether the money would be better spent elsewhere. As this project is currently less than 2% of 5C’s available funds, and I’m strongly in favor of spending down those funds before they’re at risk for redistribution to other communities (as occurred in the 2013 redistricting cycle, but not in 2023), I would love for folks to specify those other projects and help secure the proposal, permissibility concurrence, and Commissioner consensus necessary to deploy those funds within the time runway these processes will take. Difficulty in doing this is the reason we have such a large cache of savings in the first place.
about whether murals are safe
It’s been suggested that murals might entice children into the roadway or distract drivers. There is strong evidence of the opposite.
about conflict with the Langdon Rec Center modernization
As of early February’s DPR Ward 5 Capital Project Update Meeting, DPR’s timeline for the $31M Langdon Rec Center modernization is to begin construction in Spring 2026. Under that timeline, construction is a year away.
On the feasibility of the Spring 2026 timeline:
- It’s likely Spring 2026 was optimistic even with the fiscal outlook as it was in early February; the recent long-delayed Fort Lincoln groundbreaking is demonstration of that. DPR indicated a plan to host four additional community meetings on design, which would be conducted by a team that is still under procurement
- Since early February, DC’s fiscal outlook has gotten considerably worse. While I join neighbors in wanting to see this project held harmless in the tough times ahead, there are many reasons to think the $31M project would slip even further than typical for a DPR capital project.
On proceeding even with a Spring 2026 construction timeline:
- The Langdon Rec Center mural would be in four parts, two on each side of 20th St NE. Under the assumption that construction will not be shutting down 20th St NE to through traffic, it seems unlikely all four pieces would be impacted by construction.
- Should one or two pieces be affected by construction and that asphalt remain available upon project completion, we can simply restore the artwork. This would be a smaller lift both in labor and deliberation than it was the first time.
- Residual concerns might be with making the investment now only to have to partially reinvest later; see concerns about whether this is a good use of money above.
On contributory benefit to the rec center project itself:
- DOEE’s grant process allows for additional funding added to existing capital projects to deal with water management issues. DOEE personnel has indicated the space occupied by the Langdon Rec curb extensions might be a good candidate for bioswales, which could be included as part of the Rec Center modernization.
- Installing the murals now benefits the proposal of bioswales here in that it would lessen the visual impact and adjustment, which has been contentious in other parts of town where it was proposed to mitigate serious drainage issues
outreach
Significant outreach has occurred for this project.
| method | outreach performed |
|---|---|
| website | This page was launched on 3/23/2025; the notion of art on the Langdon Rec crosswalk was first added to the 20th St VZ page two years earlier on 3/12/2023; the version 1.0 survey was shared on the ANC 5C website as part of noticing for the 3/13/2025 meeting. |
| paper flyer | This project was covered in my March 2025 dispatch flyer, as well as in a purpose-made flyer notifying of the project and the SMD and April 5C meetings, which I placed in several community locations and posted at the two project sites. Members of the project team also knocked resident doors near the project sites. |
| direct email | This project had a dedicated section on each of my February 2025 newsletter and my March 2025 newsletter. The version 1.0 survey was shared in Councilmember Parker’s 2/21/25, 2/28/25, and 3/7/2025 newsletters, as well as detailed in the context of meetings on 3/7 and 3/14/2025. It was additionally shared in the DC Squared (formerly Friends of Rhode Island Ave) 3/14/25 newsletter. |
| social media | Ms. Deussom first suggested this idea in a since-deleted 3/10/2023 tweet. I shared the version 1.0 survey on X on 2/21/2025. On 3/20/2025, Jenn F. shared it on the Woodridge DC Neighbors facebook group, the Brookland DC facebook group, and the Brookland Kids facebook group. On 3/31/2025, I posted notice for the SMD meeting and linked to this page for background on the Woodridge DC Neighbors facebook group, the Brookland DC facebook group, and on Nextdoor, as well as commented on the aforementioned 3/20 posts for awareness. On 4/2, the morning of the SMD meeting, Theresa W. posted in the Woodridge FB group and the Brookland FB group to note meeting connection details and her support. |
| surveys | The survey on the version 1.0 designs launched on 2/21/2025 and received 122 responses by the time it closed on 3/24/2025. In lieu of another round of surveys, we will establish a contributor distribution for ongoing updates as requests for modification come in through agency reviews on permitting. |
| meetings | See below for Meeting History |
Meeting History
| date | body | summary |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4/2025 | Woodridge Civic Association | Ms. Deussom presented and took questions. |
| 3/13/2025 | ANC 5C | Ms. Deussom presented the version 1.0 designs and summarized survey results; members of the public spoke in favor and against, and at least four Commissioners expressed hesitance to move forward citing Woodridge Civic’s opposition |
| 3/27/2025 | volunteer team | Design review meeting 1 (all virtual) discussing survey feedback on version 1.0, changes in version 1.2, and ideation for version 2.0. All survey respondents indicating a desire to be involved and sharing contact info were invited. |
| 3/29/2025 | volunteer team | Design review meeting 2 (hybrid at Woodridge Library) discussing survey feedback on version 1.0, changes in version 1.2, and ideation for version 2.0. All survey respondents indicating a desire to be involved and sharing contact info were invited. |
| (4/1?) | Woodridge Civic Association | Additional discussion and concerns raised ahead of the SMD meeting |
| 4/2/2025 | SMD 5C07 | overview of version 1.4 designs and community discussion |
| 4/10/2025 | ANC 5C | overview of recent outreach; motion to support permitting passed unanimously, but a motion to authorize funding failed 2-2-1 on the grounds of needing project intake improvements |
