peace corps PARK
An Effort 20 Years in the Making
In January 2014, a bipartisan act of the United States Congress authorized the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to establish a national commemorative work on Federal land in Washington, D.C.
The Commemorative is to recognize the historic significance of the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961 and to honor the timeless, enduring American ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded.
This unique commemorative work is about our aspirations and character as Americans – “the better angels of our nature” – manifested in the Peace Corps idea.
History of the Peace Corps Foundation: A Long Journey to the National Mall
The journey of the Foundation, and the commemorative work that came to be called Peace Corps Park, goes back 23 years and reflects the mobilization and dedication of dozens of leaders in the Peace Corps and volunteer service community. From securing legislation after an advocacy effort that spanned three sessions of Congress to assembling a world-class design team, the Foundation has accomplished so much already thanks to the generosity of its broad group of supporters.
Phase 1: Congressional Approval (2001-2014)
Founding directors Susan Flaherty and Kevin Quigley created the “Peace Corps Museum and Memorial Foundation” with Tom Roha in 2001, raising seed funding and awareness in Congress, and exploring a partnership with various sites in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Institute of Peace, Kennedy Center, and Newseum.
An advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill in partnership with Jonathan Pearson at the National Peace Corps Association led to legislation authorizing the project first introduced in the House of Representatives by Sam Farr (D-CA) in December 2009.
Roger K. Lewis became president of the Foundation in 2012, and a refreshed Board that included directors Bonnie Gottlieb, Gordon Radley, and Ellen Lewis began pursuing a dedicated, standalone site for Peace Corps Park while ramping up the advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill, with legislation introduced in 2013 by Sen Rob Portman (R-OH) and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) passed at the end of the legislative session. The Peace Corps Commemorative Works Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 24, 2014.
Phase 2: Design Selection (2014-2018)
In partnership with the National Park Service, the Foundation selects a site out of 16 locations in Washington, D.C., landing on a half-acre triangle of land on Louisiana Ave. near the U.S. Capitol in November 2014, unlocking the design phase of the project.
With a nationwide design competition ending without any of the 180 proposals being selected, the Foundation’s Board approached individual architects and designers, eventually retaining Larry Kirkland and Associates to lead the creative vision of the Park.
Phase 3: Design Development (2018-2024)
The initial design for Peace Corps Park envisioned a contemplative space for people to sit and reflect on our interconnected world and the values of peace, service and partnership in a meditative space. The core concept of a series of rounded stone benches encircling a plaza featuring a world map represented without borders was augmented by an ambitious landscaping plan designed by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects using local species of trees and shrubs.
Numerous rounds of feedback with partners at the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts led to modifications and optimization to ensure ADA compliance and maintenance considerations, and the final design was approved by the CFA in October 2024.
Explore a detailed timeline below:
Dedicated to the ideals of the Peace Corps, this welcoming space not only honors the past but will inspire future generations to engage in service that transcends borders in the interest of peace and understanding.
Taking its place in the heart of Washington, DC in proximity to the U.S. Capitol Building and the National Mall, Peace Corps Park will join the civic landscape of monuments and memorials, filling a void in our nation’s story by offering a unique narrative of our ongoing commitment to service and global citizenship. The focal point of Peace Corps Park, envisioned by artist Larry Kirkland, features three granite benches shaped like hands reaching out to encircle the plaza and its boundaryless world map.
Peace Corps Park will stand on a triangular National Park Service site in the heart of Washington, DC, near the U.S. Capitol and National Mall. Bounded by 1st Street NW on the west and C Street NW on the north, the site faces Louisiana Avenue NW opposite Taft Park. Union Station, the city’s major transportation terminal, is three blocks away at the north end of Louisiana Avenue.
The National Park Service will maintain Peace Corps Park in perpetuity.
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PEACE CORPS PARK in Washington, D.C., (PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org) is a Congressionally authorized initiative of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation in collaboration with the National Park Service, which owns and will maintain the park.
PEACE CORPS PLAZA in Minnesota (PeaceCorpsLegacy.org) is a national initiative of the Peace Corps Legacy Association in collaboration with the National Peace Corps Association and is the cornerstone of a 3.5-acre national service park.
Both projects honor Peace Corps ideals and values, but they are separate in their leadership, locations, and funding. As 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, they rely on voluntary contributions. Donors are encouraged to support both projects.
Design Team
LARRY KIRKLAND
Sculpture & Plaza Artwork
Mowry Studio
Digital Renderings
Martin and Martin
Structural Engineering
SGF Scultura
Stonework
Cloud Gehshan
Environmental Graphics
MICHAEL VERGASON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, LTD
Site Planning & Landscaping
About Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd
Wiles Mensch
Civil Engineering
CM Cling
Lighting
AECOM
Environmental Analysis & Section 106
Historic Preservation Consultant