Meeting to Discuss Proposed Arts Center at McLean’s Clemyjontri Park

Next week, people will be able to get more information about a proposal that would add an arts and education center at Clemyjontri Park in McLean.

Located in the Langley neighborhood, the park (6317 Georgetown Pike) features a playground, swing set, carousel and trackless train, with opportunities for kids who use wheelchairs or who have sensory or developmental disabilities. The park also has a picnic pavilion.

“The name CLEMYJONTRI is derived from the donor’s four children: Carolyn (CL), Emily (EMY), John (Jon), and Petrina (Tri),” according to Fairfax County’s website, adding that the Fairfax County Park Authority owns and operates the park.

Now, the county and the McLean Project for the Arts want to build a gallery exhibition space and arts education classroom facilities at the park, according to the county.

More from the county on the idea:

MPA envisions an all-inclusive art center which provides a creative respite for the community that is integrated into, yet distinct from, Clemyjontri Park. The center could potentially exhibit the work of contemporary artists; offer arts instruction and classroom space; and include public artwork in the park. ​

This new facility would build upon the existing visual arts programming currently provided by MPA through a public/private partnership with Fairfax County at the McLean Community Center (MCC).

MPA will continue its award-winning exhibitions in the Emerson Gallery and maintain its robust visual arts instruction and DuVal Studio, both at the MCC.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the McLean Project for the Arts plan to hold an open house to discuss the proposal on Monday (Feb. 24).

The meeting is set to start at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation at 7 p.m. at MPA’s Emerson Gallery at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue).

Staff from both the county and the McLean Project for the Arts plan to attend the meeting to answer questions.

Photo via The Pushy Lawyer/Facebook