New Brentwood Park transforms a tarnished past into a beautiful monument of hope

By ROSANNA WEAVER

For years, a metal barrier stood in the middle of Windom Road in Brentwood, haphazardly and confusingly. It was the kind of thing you might expect to see when a bridge was permanently out of service or a safety barrier was needed to keep vehicles from driving off a cliff. This barrier, however, wasn’t about safety, but something more sinister: it was erected by Brentwood in 1957 to physically reinforce a racial divide.

Now, that metal barrier has been transformed into a sculpture, unveiled in a new park on June 29. The piece of metal that once served as a marker of separation is clasped between the statue’s two hands as a symbol of unity.

Brentwood was, for most of its history, a sundown town — a town where African Americans were allowed to work but not live. North Brentwood was the first incorporated African-American city in the country. Shortly after Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the city of Brentwood erected the border barrier and for years resisted North Brentwood’s requests to remove it. But the two cities have worked together in more recent times to discuss how to respond to this tangible evidence of the past and reshape it for the future.

According to a press release, the cities’ unique collaboration is a testament to the importance of public art and environmental stewardship. Together, they are creating a space that honors the past while also committing to a shared future.

“This is the culmination of the close cooperation between the cities and proof of what

“What happens when communities stand together to fight racism,” said Brentwood Mayor Rocio Treminio-Lopez. “As an immigrant who grew up in this community, (I believe the) unveiling affirms a commitment to pave the way for a future of inclusion and justice for all who live here.”

North Brentwood Mayor Petrella Robinson said the park’s June 29 unveiling provided an opportunity to “reflect on the cause that unites us and also celebrate the efforts of the community that have brought us to this solemn and joyful event.”

“We honor the residents who fought against this blatant discrimination and we pave the way for unity and equality,” she said.

The process was a long one with many participants. Through partnerships with Gateway Community Development Corporation, Neighborhood Design Center, Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, Red Dirt Studio, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Maryland Area Heritage Authority – Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, and the Maryland State Arts Council, the two cities developed a shared vision to reimagine the look and experience of the barrier at Windom Road.

The cities commissioned the artist team of Nehemiah Dixon III and Wesley Clark — driving forces behind the Gateway Arts District — along with R.L. Martin and Bob Donahue to restore and revitalize a segregation-era barrier between the two cities through a memorial sculpture in a park designed by the Neighborhood Design Center.

The park also includes a nod to sustainability. Ecosite LLC and E&R Services LLC designed and built functional design elements to address historical flooding issues and manage stormwater.