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Gospel choirs swayed and sang, dancers leapt and artists wielded their paintbrushes—all part of a joyful celebration of Juneteenth at African American Commemorative Park in Orange, Va., earlier this year.
The National Association of REALTORS® was there, too, to capture the moment. Watch the video.
The commemorative park hosting the Juneteenth celebration was built with help from NAR’s Placemaking Grant and is a project of the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® plus a coalition of government and nonprofit organizations. FAAR is always looking for ways to engage with its six jurisdictions, says Kim McClellan, RCE, AHWD, public policy director. “The park presented a great opportunity to bring a focus to the town of Orange and support a much-needed community amenity,” she says.
African American Commemorative Park is part of a formerly thriving African American business district that went defunct after the federal government built a highway bypass in the 1970s and businesses shut down or relocated. Now, with the support of NAR’s Placemaking Grant, FAAR hopes the community gathering space will spur economic development, attracting businesses that can revitalize the neighborhood but keep its historic character.
The NAR grant purchased the park’s benches and interpretive panels, which, says McClellan, are key to telling the history of the African American community in Orange, while providing places to sit and reflect on that history. NAR’s video of the celebration is part of a campaign launched in September to showcase successful Placemaking Grant projects.
Starting the first week of January 2025, associations can apply for funding to build or revitalize publicly accessible gathering spaces on public land. Plan to apply early and start a conversation with the Placemaking grant manager to make sure your proposed project fits the scope of the grant.
