M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks hired Graham Projects to collaborate on designing and installing an immersive, local waterway themed sidewalk and plaza mural in support of their initiative to upgrade gathering and play space amenities at Waters Landing Local Park in Germantown, Maryland. The resulting Creek to Lake design overlays the historic creek pathways on the existing Little Seneca Lake, educating visitors about the history and impacts of water infrastructure changes to the landscape we inhabit through playful colors and detailed fish stencils. The pavement artwork visually connects park goers from the main walkway to the new playground and pavilion. The mural is a colorful interpretation of historic transportation and topographic maps featuring orange roadways and train tracks spanning the plaza, the Little Seneca Creek Dam, and abstract shapes evoking surrounding slopes. Multicolor interpretations of Brook Trout and Fallfish can be found swimming in the creek, while Largemouth Bass, Yellow Bullhead, and Northern Snakehead glide around the lake. Individual species are located in the types of waterways where they currently live. Through its immersive map-like depiction of the local landscape and water life, the Creek to Lake teaches families and parkgoers about their local ecosystem and infrastructure history.
Project partner: M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks
Design Team: Lead Designer: Zoe Roane-Hopkins, Art Director: Graham Coreil-Allen
Installation Team: Graham Coreil-Allen, Melvin Jadulang, Zoe Roane-Hopkins, Liam Arbeiter, Mar Braxton, Rachel DeTone, Kirsten Pamfilis, Maurice McCrimmon, JaVon Townsend
