ON THE BOARDS/ IN DEVELOPMENT 01
Public Art at John Chavis Memorial Park
Aquatic Center & Heritage Plaza, Raleigh, NC
Client: City of Raleigh
Year: 2023–2028
Type: Integrated Public Art / Cultural Placemaking
Status: Design Approved | Fabrication Begins Fall 2026 | Installation Expected 2028
Overview
Commissioned as part of Phase 2 improvements to John Chavis Memorial Park, this project introduces two integrated public artworks within the park’s new aquatic center and Heritage Plaza. The work responds to the park’s deep historical significance while supporting its continued role as a vital community space.
Through material, imagery, and spatial integration, the project embeds cultural memory within both architectural and landscape elements; connecting past narratives to present-day use.
Context
Named for John Chavis, the park was established in 1937 as a segregated recreational facility for Raleigh’s Black community and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
As one of the most historically significant public spaces in the city, the park carries layered narratives of segregation, community life, and cultural resilience. The current redevelopment introduces new amenities while also expanding interpretive elements that acknowledge and preserve this history.
The Challenge
The project requires the integration of contemporary artwork within a historically sensitive site, balancing visibility, meaning, and restraint. The artwork will be integrated into two key areas that are being redeveloped led by EVOKE Studio Architecture: Heritage Plaza near the original carousel house (North End of the site) and the new Aquatic Center (South End of the site).
Key considerations include:
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Honoring a historically significant site shaped by segregation and community resilience
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Translating archival narratives into contemporary visual language
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Integrating artwork seamlessly within both architectural (aquatic center) and landscape (Heritage Plaza) elements
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Creating work that resonates across generations and diverse audiences, as well as having a cohesive language with both locations at the opposite ends of the park.
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Supporting the park’s dual role as a site of recreation and remembrance
The work must operate as both a visual enhancement and a meaningful extension of the park’s interpretive framework.
Rendering provided by Evoke Studio Architecture
Approach
The project is grounded in a research-driven methodology that draws from archival imagery, ornamental detail, and cultural symbolism. Visual language is developed through the use of silhouette an enduring form within African American artistic traditions that conveys both presence and absence.
This approach allows the work to:
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Reference historical narratives without literal replication
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Invite interpretation across audiences
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Layer memory within contemporary space
By embedding imagery directly into architectural and site elements, the work becomes part of the everyday experience of the park rather than a standalone object.
The Work
The Gathering Place (Heritage Plaza)
Located near the historic carousel house, this installation draws from ornamental motifs found in the original carousel structure. The work integrates these patterns with historical imagery, creating a layered visual surface that connects past and present.
When We Could Fly (Aquatic Center)
Installed within the interior glazing of the aquatic center, this work uses silhouetted forms to reference themes of movement, aspiration, and transformation. The imagery connects to broader cultural narratives while remaining open to interpretation.
Together, the two works establish a visual dialogue across the site; linking interior and exterior spaces through a shared conceptual and material language.
Community + Cultural Engagement
The project builds on the park’s long-standing role as a community-centered space, drawing from historical research and ongoing dialogue around how the site is remembered and experienced.
This section will expand to include specific engagement processes, collaborators, and community input as the project progresses.
Future Impact
The project is intended to create a layered visual narrative that connects the park’s historical legacy with its contemporary use, embedding cultural memory within both architectural and landscape elements.
By integrating artwork into spaces of recreation and gathering, the work aims to:
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Support ongoing public engagement with the site’s history
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Contribute to the park’s identity as both a civic and cultural space
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Create opportunities for reflection within everyday use
This section will be expanded following installation to document public interaction, spatial impact, and long-term engagement.
Project Team
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Artist: J. Stacy Utley
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Client: City of Raleigh
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Architect: Evoke Studio Architecture
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Fabricator: ACSM