History of the Peace Corps Foundation: A Long Journey to the National Mall
The journey of the Foundation, and the commemorative work that came to be called Peace Corps Park, goes back 23 years and reflects the mobilization and dedication of dozens of leaders in the Peace Corps and volunteer service community. From securing legislation after an advocacy effort that spanned three sessions of Congress to assembling a world-class design team, the Foundation has accomplished so much already thanks to the generosity of its broad group of supporters.
Phase 1: Congressional Approval (2001-2014)
Founding directors Susan Flaherty and Kevin Quigley created the “Peace Corps Museum and Memorial Foundation” with Tom Roha in 2001, raising seed funding and awareness in Congress, and exploring a partnership with various sites in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Institute of Peace, Kennedy Center, and Newseum.
An advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill in partnership with Jonathan Pearson at the National Peace Corps Association led to legislation authorizing the project first introduced in the House of Representatives by Sam Farr (D-CA) in December 2009.
Roger K. Lewis became president of the Foundation in 2012, and a refreshed Board that included directors Bonnie Gottlieb, Gordon Radley, and Ellen Lewis began pursuing a dedicated, standalone site for Peace Corps Park while ramping up the advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill, with legislation introduced in 2013 by Sen Rob Portman (R-OH) and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) passed at the end of the legislative session. The Peace Corps Commemorative Works Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 24, 2014.
Phase 2: Design Selection (2014-2018)
In partnership with the National Park Service, the Foundation selects a site out of 16 locations in Washington, D.C., landing on a half-acre triangle of land on Louisiana Ave. near the U.S. Capitol in November 2014, unlocking the design phase of the project.
With a nationwide design competition ending without any of the 180 proposals being selected, the Foundation’s Board approached individual architects and designers, eventually retaining Larry Kirkland and Associates to lead the creative vision of the Park.
Phase 3: Design Development (2018-2024)
The initial design for Peace Corps Park envisioned a contemplative space for people to sit and reflect on our interconnected world and the values of peace, service and partnership in a meditative space. The core concept of a series of rounded stone benches encircling a plaza featuring a world map represented without borders was augmented by an ambitious landscaping plan designed by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects using local species of trees and shrubs.
Numerous rounds of feedback with partners at the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts led to modifications and optimization to ensure ADA compliance and maintenance considerations, and the final design was approved by the CFA in October 2024.