Reclaiming Public Space invites young people (ages 16–25) from Charlottesville’s Black descendant community to share their visions for how public parks can better serve the community. This one-time event offers an opportunity for youth to voice their ideas for transforming public parks into inclusive, accessible, and culturally reflective spaces. Feedback gathered during the event will directly inform the next steps of the Swords into Plowshares project.
The event will include interactive stations, creative expression, and community dialogue—centering youth voices and ideas. A Youth Vision Report and Action Plan will be developed from the feedback to guide future public space initiatives in Charlottesville.
Join us in this important conversation about history, community, and the future of our shared spaces.
Schedule of Events
10:00 AM – Welcome & Riding/Walking Tour of Washington Park and the surrounding landscape
11:30 AM – Light Lunch & Small Group Discussion
(Lunch includes Bodo’s, sandwich fixings, assorted chips, and water)
12:15 PM – Collaborative Visioning Activity
Using Mentimeter and open dialogue, participants will respond to questions such as:
What is an ideal public space?
What would you like to see done with the bronze?
If there could be history in every park, what stories would you want told?
What would you like designers of enduring form to know about your community?