In 2024 Montgomery County, Maryland renovated the Valleywood Neighborhood Park in Wheaton in order to expand the playground, improve accessibility, add park improvements, and enhance stormwater management. Graham Projects collaborated with Sol Raya Public Space artist Nicole Buchholz to design and install a colorful, interactive mural leading residents up a widened entrance walkway ramp and into the play and picnic areas. Set in a blue-green color palette, the circles and large leaves of the Hopping Along pavement art design invite visitors to move and play along the path on their way to the playground. Artistic markings reference local native trees and include a bubble-like hopscotch, four square, and an agility trail invite kids to hop and balance from one circle to the next along wavy lines and vibrant swashes.
Project partners: Montgomery Parks M-NCPPC, Sol Raya Public Space
Graham Projects production team: Graham Coreil-Allen, Melvin Jadulang, Mar Braxton, Lydia Milano, Zoe Roane-Hopkins, Liam Arbeiter, Maurice McCrimmon
