Letter
Dear Mr. Kratz:
In its meeting of 17 March, the Commission of Fine Arts was pleased to hear an information presentation on the proposed 11th Street Bridge Park at 11th Street, SE, and the Anacostia River. The Commission commended the project for its ambitious vision and provided the following comments.
The Commission members praised the basic premise for the park, which reuses the existing piers of the demolished bridge and offers the unique opportunity to connect—both physically and symbolically—two parts of the city and their communities. They expressed strong support for the winning competition design, anticipating that its conceptual clarity will be enhanced through the process of programmatic and design development.
Recognizing the impressive community outreach efforts that have generated an expansive program for this public infrastructure, the Commission members cautioned that too much programmatic complexity may challenge the operational feasibility and design clarity of the three-acre park. They recommended that the design should accommodate easy pedestrian movement unencumbered by program areas; they also noted the need for shade within the bridge park. They suggested that the designers further develop the park’s connections to the riverbanks and the wider cityscape, including the pedestrian experience of views along the river’s edge and within the varying conditions on either end of the bridge.
The Commission looks forward to the formal review of this prominent civic project as a concept design. As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Scott Kratz, Director
11th Street Bridge Park
Building Bridges Across the River
1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20020
cc: Leif Dormsjo, D.C. Department of Transportation
Peter May, National Park Service