The negotiations over the design and placement of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial have finally concluded, with the National Capital Planning Commission voting unanimously to approve the revised design. It’s been sort of a long road for this particular monument, with conflicts arising over everything from the choice of a Chinese sculptor to what kind of security stanchions would be installed around the perimeter. But with the design approved, the National Park Service just has to issue building permits so that the construction can go forward.
The monument will be placed on the tidal basin, among the cherry blossom trees, sort of diagonally across from the Jefferson Memorial. The new memorial sounds lovely, so I’m looking forward to being able to view it, the Jefferson, AND the cherry blossoms in one trip. It’s scheduled to open in late summer 2011, so expect to pick your way around the construction site while walking the tidal basin for the next couple of years.
Tiffany Baxendell Bridge is an Internet enthusiast and an incurable smartass. When not heckling the neighborhood political scene on Twitter, she can be found goofing off with her ukulele, Bollywood dancing, or obsessing about cult TV. She is That Woman With the Baby In the Bar.
Tiffany lives in Brookland with her husband Tom, son Charlie, and two high-maintenance cats. Read why Tiffany loves DC.
