As finalists in the 11th Street Bridge Park Competition in Washington, DC, Cooper Robertson and Balmori Associates developed a concept that functions as much as a civic center as it does as a park. The clasped shape of the bridge platform, its iconic structural arches, and the physical connections it makes to both neighborhoods creates a place that is inclusive, memorable, and symbolic.

Bridge Park’s continuous thread reaches deep into the diverse neighborhoods on both sides of the river, bridging existing gaps between the River and two main streets and encouraging additional development. The iconic structure of the bridge “walks” from bank to bank across the existing piers, evoking the power of Frederick Douglass’ daily ritual and the freedom and triumph his story represents. “The Clasp” at the center of the bridge creates a grand place where the community can come together and celebrate common interests.