Franklin Park: The Recurring Wellspring

The revitalization of historic Franklin Park in downtown Washington, D.C., is the first-ever joint venture between the National Park Service (NPS), the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), and the Department of General Services (DGS). The urban square is the second-largest National Park Service-owned space in the downtown, and was created in the 1800s to protect the primary water source serving the White House. As part of the agreement, the DowntownDC BID will operate, manage, and program events in the revitalized park. In collaboration, STUDIOS Architecture and DAVID RUBIN Land Collective are revivifying the open spaces and adding a a café within the 4.79-acre park. The reimagined historic, urban square is designed for inclusion, to provide improved environmental function, and to introduce new, programmable spaces, while celebrating the history of water on the site.