Douglass Center Playground Puts Focus on Black History, Contributions

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The formal dedication of the new Douglass Community Center playground last week celebrated a community gathering point that will serve as a reminder for the struggles and accomplishments of Black Americans through history.

Built on the grounds of the recently renovated building that served as the county’s high school for Black students until the end of segregation, the facility features the latest trends in playground equipment—from a two-story slide tower to a musical instrument zone—and offers history lessons at nearly every turn.

During the May 31 dedication ceremony, Department of Parks and Recreation Director Steve Torpy described the project as an “exceptional, one-of-a-kind facility, which is a true destination playground, and one of the nation’s top social, culturally conscious playgrounds.”

He credited his staff with pushing to make the playground a special place. Among the project’s leaders were Assistant Director for Centers Rameir Martin and two longtime department employees, Wayne Hyatt and Douglass Community Center Manager Jon Mattia.

Their efforts to create a playground with a Black history theme is unique, he said.

“That is something that had not been done in this county. It had not been done in this state. And, to this degree, was not something that had been done in this nation,” Torpy said.

Martin said, for him, the project has its roots in his high school experience when he was a member of his school’s Success Club—started in 1960s to help students navigate through civil unrest and racism.

“We learned and studied the contributions of Black people in America. We felt empowered and had pride in being Black. We learned that the legacy of Black people is more than just surviving enslavement and the Civil Rights period in American history,” he said.

He recounted that when the club planned a special Black History Month assembly, white students—including many longtime friends—objected and planned a walk out. As the conflict moved toward violence, Martin said teachers and community leaders encouraged the students to win with their minds, not their fists.

The theme of that assembly was “Our Gifts to the World”—a theme reflected throughout the playground. Among the special features is a replica of the three-position traffic signal patented in 1923 by

Garrett Morgan, the first Black resident in Cleveland, OH, to own a car.

“This project screams America. This project is American history—American history viewed through the lens of contributions made by Black people,” Martin said.

He also cited County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) as an inspiration with her commitment to do “hard things,” the theme of her most recent State of the County address.

Randall, along with Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), joined in the dedication ceremony, which county leaders noted drew the largest crowd ever for a playground project.

She led the gathered students, county staff, members of the Douglass High School Alumni Association, and families in a call and response cheer of: “Frederick Douglass, Playground, Hard Things.”

A formal ribbon-cutting was followed by a rush of children to the playground to explore their new recreation area.

There are still a few elements that will be added to the facility.

Coming soon are two 8-foot-tall bronze statues of Barack Obama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., intended to represent hopes and dreams. n

Free Document Shredding Offered

Gather up your boxes of records for a special community document shredding event Saturday, June 17 at Tuscarora High School.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It could close earlier if the shredding vehicles fill up.

Organizers will be collecting food donations for Loudoun Hunger Relief during the program.

For a list of items acceptable for shredding and details of the food drive, go to leesburgva.gov/shredevent.

HOPE Quilts Displayed at Town Hall

COVID-19 HOPE Quilts are on display on the first floor of Town Hall through August.

The community-based art project is organized by portrait artist and philanthropist Diane Canney through her nonprofit, Art of the Matter. The campaign was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to use art to express gratitude and hope during a time of isolation and uncertainty.

Each signature quilt honors frontline workers while commemorating those who were affected by the pandemic. More than 800 panel blocks were created by children and adults located across the nation, including several local and national artists such as Alex Carr, Rusty and Kaeley Boyle, Jeremy Chew, Namchi Dao, and John Deckert.

Quilts selected for the exhibit honor Leesburg’s frontline workers who risked their lives to keep the local government up and running.

Canney hopes to create permanent memorials in America to put a face on statistics and to capture the stories of dedication and remembrance.

An open house will be held on Friday, July 7, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The exhibit may be viewed during normal business hours. Learn at hopequilt.org.

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Construction Projects Bring Street Closures

Work to complete storm sewer improvements on Edwards Ferry Road will require daytime detours through June 23.

The work is being done between Harrison Street and Woodberry Road 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily on weekdays.

The work is part of preparations for an upcoming sidewalk and drainage project.

Also closed this month will be Lassiter Way next to the Town Hall parking garage.

Excavation work is related to electrical conduit installation and is expected to continue weekdays, from 7 a.m.to 5 p.m., through June 30. Parking in the work zone will be prohibited during construction. n