Making the park
worthy of Dr. King's legacy.
The Art
“But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends. It is this type of understanding goodwill that will transform the deep gloom of the old age into the exuberant gladness of the new age. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Facing the Challenge of a New Age,” 1956
Call for Curator
The City of Corvallis is in the process of selecting an Art Curator/Coordinator to oversee the curation, coordination, and commissioning of public art for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Improvement Project. The selected consultant will play a crucial role in creating a vibrant are portfolio that reflects Dr. King’s teachings and activism, while inspiring community dialogue and action led by local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Public art and interpretive elements will be integrated throughout the park, creating a welcoming place for all people while complementing a park design inspired by Dr. King's philosophies of inclusion and equality.
​Key locations for public art include: Entry Plaza, The Commons, Basketball Court and Fitness Area, Children's Playground and Outdoor Water Feature, the Barn, and the network of trails found throughout the park.
​
The project benefits from the guidance and support of the Art & Interpretation Committee, a community-based, volunteer group comprised of the following members:
​
Zina Allen
Jason Dorsette
Dr. Luhui Whitebear
Dr. Robert Thompson
Natalie Summerlin
Dr. Chance White Eyes
Elisabeth Anderson
Dr. Barry Jerkins
Jamar Bean
​
Selection of the Curator is expected to take place in December of 2024. Public outreach events for the Art & Interpretation component will take place in the Winter & Spring of 2025. Initial art installations are expected in September of 2025.
Interpretive Design Plan
As the City of Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department began to approach improvements to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, it was understood that the interpretive plan was the mechanism by which a very nice park with Dr. King’s name on it would be transformed into a park that educated, inspired, and truly embodied his legacy of struggling against oppression for justice.