Letter
Dear Ms. Mendelson-Ielmini:
In its public meeting of 17 October conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a final design submission for the Peace Corps Commemorative Park, to be located within the triangular reservation bounded by Louisiana Avenue and First and C Streets, NW. The Commission approved the submission with the following comments and delegated completion of the final review process to the staff.
In their support for the final design, the Commission members provided comments on several remaining details to make the park a welcoming place of commemoration and respite for visitors of all abilities. They advised further refinement of the configuration for the plaza, noting that it creates awkward conditions along the edges and pinch points at the entrances. In order to create a full companion seat at the end of the bench-hands, they suggested either moving or eliminating the joint and metal plate that is intended to deter the use of skateboards; this change would also require shifting the inscriptions on the fronts of the benches. They recommended further study of the design of the proposed cane detection barriers beneath the sculpted hands of the three benches to ensure that the barriers would not be easily damaged, cause a tripping hazard, or detract from the honorific quality of the bench-hands.
The Commission looks forward to the completion of this inspirational and innovative addition to the commemorative landscape of Washington’s monumental core. For the resolution and documentation of the final design as delegated, please consult with the staff which, as always, is available to assist you.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini, Acting Director
Region 1–National Capital Area
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242
cc: Larry Kirkland, The Studio of Larry Kirkland
Michael Vergason, Michael Vergason Landscape Architects
Tony Barclay, Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
Marcel Acosta, National Capital Planning Commission