Powhatan Park is a 1.5-acre neighborhood park located between North Henry Street and Douglas Street. The park features a recently refurbished basketball court, playground and multi-sport (pickleball, soccer, tennis) hard-surface court. It includes a passive open space that is popular for dog walking. A major renovation of the park is in the planning process.

The approved FY2024-2026 Public Art Annual Workplan recommends that public art be added to the park, in consultation with the community, potentially to further the goals of the park renovation. The plan acknowledges that the project goals should include not only physical improvements, but also supporting the resiliency of the community through involvement in the public art process.

One of the first steps in the City's public art process, as outlined in the Public Art Implementation Plan, is for the Commission for the Arts to appoint a Public Art Project Task Force that will advise on the entire project development process. The Arts Commission appointed a Public Art Project Task Force at their June 2025 meeting.

timeline

• June 2025: Public Art Task Force Members appointed by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
• September 2025: Development of public art project goals.
• October 2025: Approval of the Public Art Project Plan by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
• February 2026: Posting of the Artist Call and beginning of artist selection
• June 2026: Selection of artist Davide Prete approved by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

• Bring new artwork to Alexandria that is inspired by the site history and context, and reflects the values of the surrounding neighborhood.
• Improve the sense of identity at the park by providing artwork with a unifying theme that integrates with the park redesign.
• Inspire, delight, and engage children, families and the wider community.
• Improve the appearance of the park from Route 1 through the use of color and/or form.
• Enhance the design of the park and make it a place where people want to spend time and have memorable experiences.

Davide Prete is an Italian-born sculptor, architect, educator, and public artist based in the Washington, DC region. Born in Treviso, Italy, he was introduced to metalsmithing by his father, Alessandro, and sculptor Toni Benetton. He studied jewelry and metalsmithing in Venice, earned an architecture degree from IUAV in 2003, and later moved to the United States, where he received both an MA in Art and an MFA in Sculpture from Fontbonne University in 2011.

Prete’s public art practice combines sculpture, architecture, digital fabrication, traditional metalsmithing, and community engagement. His work often transforms movement, sound, landscape, and public space into sculptural forms that serve as landmarks, gathering places, and playful civic experiences. His architectural background informs his attention to scale, circulation, durability, fabrication, and long-term public use.

He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of the District of Columbia and has also taught at the Corcoran College of Arts, George Washington University, and Catholic University. His work has been exhibited internationally, and his large-scale public sculptures have been installed in Italy and the United States.

For Powhatan Park, Prete brings a practice rooted in placemaking, community participation, and the transformation of challenging urban conditions into meaningful public experiences. His goal is to create artwork that is welcoming, durable, playful, and specific to the community.

The City of Alexandria's Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is currently in the process of addressing park renovations outlined in the 2015 Neighborhood Park Plan. For more information about the overall planning, design, and implementation process, please visit the project page for the Powhatan Park Improvements Project.