Client: Arlington County Public Art

Overview

Jennie Dean Park is home to Wheelhouse, a site-specific work of permanent public art that also functions as a pavilion. Inspired by the mill that stood at this site in the 1700s and the park’s rich recreational history, the artwork references the structural anatomy of the region’s historical mills while also playing on baseball terminology. Starting in the early 20th century, the park became a hub for Black baseball in the region, where game days were social epicenters for the community. Wheelhouse, which refers to the location of the strike zone, also nods to a mill’s function, both ideas reflected in the installation’s 24 house-shaped slices extending up from the ground. The resulting structure is a permeable pavilion that recalls a dugout as well as the radiating spokes of a grist mill. On the interior, mirrored stainless steel panels shimmer with the reflections of park activity and passersby, while a 20-foot bench crafted from reclaimed Cypress wood offers visitors a comfortable respite. The radial repetition of the design create both a thoroughfare and a gathering space, activated by the energetic uses, industrial roots, and sporting history that have shaped Jennie Dean Park and the surrounding community.

Goals

The park was renovated based on the Jennie Dean Park Master Plan developed during the community process for creating the Four Mile Run Valley Park Master Plan and Design Guidelines for the larger area. Wheelhouse was envisioned as part of the renovation of Jennie Dean Park, and the goal was for the artwork to serve as a functional pavilion appropriately situated within the park. The commissioned artist Mark Reigelman was also tasked with considering the two-phase park renovation plan in developing the public art concept.

The artist worked closely with Arlington Public Art and Park staff, the community, and Rhodeside & Harwell landscape architects in creating this pavilion design, a distinctive site-specific experience for the park. The shape and narrative of the artwork greatly influenced the final pathway layout in its section of the park, as the curved artwork was reinforced by a spiraling walkway, saw-tooth concrete edges, saw-cut lines, and sandblasted surface treatments radiating out from the artwork. These site-specific details were designed to reinforce the artwork conceptually and formally, to draw in pedestrians, and then to slingshot them to other portions of Jennie Dean Park.

Process

During Arlington's segregated history, Jennie Dean Park was the only park available to Black Arlingtonians. As such, the park and adjacent Four Mile Run stream were integral to the Green Valley community for generations. Building upon its history and the community’s special love of baseball, the park has been redesigned to celebrate the area’s past. Once a segregated park for Black baseball clubs, the artwork highlights the importance of safe spaces for gathering in Green Valley then and now.

Wheelhouse was developed after months of community meetings, a process that captured the primary needs and interests of community members. Everything from function and location to color and size was discussed to ensure the artwork fit into the site conceptually and formally. With its community-responsive design approach, Wheelhouse is intended to capture the site's unique history while serving as a gathering space within Jennie Dean Park. The overall structure was fabricated using aluminum and scaled to maximize the pedestrian experience, as well as to minimize waste. The certified reclaimed lumber used for the pavilion’s long interior bench was sourced and processed locally and further represents a desire to be thoughtful regarding the sustainable use of materials and methods.

Additional Information

Because of Jennie Dean Park's history, it was important for the artwork to express multi-purpose characteristics. On game days, Wheelhouse is used as a dugout for teams in preparation for the first pitch. During regular park days, Wheelhouse is a brightly colored pavilion for those exploring the park's 20+ acres. Its massive, reclaimed Cypress wood bench offers a comfortable resting place, and the work’s mirrored interior surface encourages visitors to walk through it and further explore the park grounds. At dusk, when the artwork is lit by surrounding in-ground LED lights, Wheelhouse becomes a place of meditation and reflection to consider the complicated history of this unique riverfront park.