April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 24

EQUITY
The " Hall of Heroes " climbing blocks
were inspired by the architecture
of the National Museum of African
American History and Culture in
Washington, D.C.
Engaging With Black History
and Culture Through Play
By Kraig Troxell
L
oudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services
(PRCS) in Virginia opened a premier, one-of-a-kind destination
playground in May 2023. Most notably, the playground expands
on a commitment of park and recreation departments nationwide
to create welcoming recreational environments that celebrate equity, inclusiveness
and collaboration - positively affecting community health and
well-being. Unlike most other playgrounds, this one is truly exceptional because
it links the past to the hope of the future through play and imagination.
The playground is located on the
grounds of the historic Douglass
High School. The school was constructed
in 1941 on land purchased
by the African American community
and was the only African
American high school in Loudoun
County until the end of school segregation
in the county in 1968. The
building is
listed in the Virginia
Landmarks Register and the National
Register of Historic Places.
As part of the building's planned
renovations, and to
help
realize
fully the Loudoun County Public
School's vision to honor, restore
and preserve the rich cultural significance
of the building, Loudoun
County PRCS engaged in a concept
design for the playground structure
that would complement the project.
The renovation included the Douglass
Community Center, which
shares space on the historic school's
24 Parks & Recreation | APRIL 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
campus and is one of Loudoun
County's seven community centers
operated by the department.
Celebrating Impact
The Douglass Community Center
playground replacement project created
a themed experience that embraces
the global impact and contributions
made by African Americans.
Children can see themselves in any
one of the iconic faces on the " Hall
of Heroes " climbing blocks, inspired
by the architecture of the National
Museum of African American History
and Culture in Washington,
D.C. The climber is the center structure
that sets the tone for the themed
playground concept. The Hall of Heroes
represents climbing the building
blocks to a better community.
" The playground is an incredible
complement to the entire historic
complex and is one of the nation's top
social and culturally conscious playgrounds, "
says Steve Torpy, director
of Loudoun County PRCS. " The
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUDOUN COUNTY (VIRGINIA) PARKS,
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

April 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024 – Parks & Recreation

April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 1
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover1
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover2
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 1
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 2
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 3
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April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 50
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April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover3
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
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