The Washington, D.C. Department of General Services (DGS) is leading a revitalization of downtown’s historic Franklin Park in a unique collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), and the Downtown Business Improvement District (DCBID). The park design is a collaboration between STUDIOS Architecture and DAVID RUBIN Land Collective, focusing upon the public spaces and new café within the 4.79-acre historic park. Improvements to the space also include a re-imagined historic fountain, improved seating, widened pathways, new trees, a garden for all ages, and a maintainence program supported through economic resiliency. Franklin Park is the second-largest NPS-owned public space in the downtown, and was created in the 1800s to protect the primary water source serving the White House – a well spring on the property. Within the scope of the revitalization, the park will adjust to the District’s stringent stormwater regulations, an urban forest succession plan for the park will be administered, and the soils refurbished.
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