What NoMa Parks Foundation does

The NoMa Parks Foundation is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and operating as an affiliate of the NoMa Business Improvement District. Its mission is to develop public parks, plazas, underpass art installations, and pedestrian promenades in the formerly park-deficient NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood, where it serves approximately 36,000 residents within a four-fifths-mile radius and the broader District workforce and visitor population. The Foundation does not charge users for access; all parks it develops are titled to the District of Columbia and managed by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. Its core "products" are physical public assets — community parks (Swampoodle Park, Swampoodle Terrace, Alethia Tanner Park), underpass art installations (Rain with 4,000 LED-powered polycarbonate rods, Lightweave with sensor-reactive stainless-steel and LED lattices), the NoMa Meander pedestrian promenade, and a planned four-underpass art-park program covering Florida Avenue, K, L, and M Streets NE.

The Foundation's revenue model is grant-based rather than commercial. It secured a $50 million grant from the District of Columbia under the 2013 NoMa Parks Grant Authorization Act, formalized via a 2014 public-private partnership with the DC Government, DC Department of General Services, DC Department of Parks and Recreation, and the District Department of Transportation. Approximately $17.4 million of that grant has been deployed on land acquisition — most notably a $14 million purchase of a two-acre parcel from Pepco (2016) and a $3.4 million purchase of the Swampoodle Terrace parcel from Jemal's 1100 3rd LLC (2020) — with the balance funding landscape architecture (Lee and Associates, Nelson Byrd Woltz), construction (Forrester Construction), and underpass installations built by M.C. Dean. Secondary funding includes a $10,000 annual endowed fellowship from The Wilkes Company and ancillary private donations. Pricing is not applicable: all output is free public infrastructure with ongoing operations assumed by DC DPR.

The Foundation's go-to-market is community engagement. It runs in-person Community Conversations, a dedicated ImagineNoMaParks.org engagement platform on the mySidewalk platform, naming initiatives that drew up to 1,500 votes, and earned-media coverage in Washington Post, Curbed DC, DCist, and Washingtonian. Programming is executed through a small core team of 1–10 employees, led by President Robin-Eve Jasper, Board Chair Charles "Sandy" Wilkes, and Director of Parks Projects Stacie West, supported by a network of strategic partners including landscape architects, art studios, contractors, and DC Government agencies. The Foundation's competitive advantages are anchored in its statutory mandate, its public-private partnership structure, and its accumulated track record of delivered parks and signature art installations in a single neighborhood.

Name

NoMa Parks Foundation

Legal name

NoMa Parks Foundation

Website

https://nomaparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The NoMa Parks Foundation is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that develops public parks, underpass art installations, and pedestrian promenades in the NoMa neighborhood. Funded primarily by a $50M DC Government grant through a 2014 public-private partnership, it serves NoMa's residents, workers, and visitors with free public spaces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Park Development

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

Keywords

• Public park development
• Community park planning
• Urban open space
• Park construction services
• Public space development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Public Funding: The primary revenue stream comes from government grants, notably a $50 million commitment from the District of Columbia Government awarded in 2013-2014 to acquire land, build parks, and enhance public space in the NoMa neighborhood. Additional grants from DC government agencies support specific projects.
2. Private Donations and Fellowships: The organization receives private donations, such as the $10,000 annual fellowship pledged by The Wilkes Company to further the realization of the foundation's goals.
3. Land Acquisition and Development: The foundation acquires land for park development using grant funds, with land titled to the District of Columbia government. Development costs are covered through grant funding.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NoMa Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization that acquires land, designs, and develops public parks, plazas, and art installations in Washington, D.C.'s NoMa neighborhood. It operates as a public-private partner of the District of Columbia under a $50 million grant, and delivers community parks, underpass art parks, and pedestrian corridors that are turned over to the DC government for public use.

Product overview

NoMa Parks Foundation operates as a nonprofit park development organization creating public parks and spaces in Washington D.C.'s NoMa neighborhood. The Foundation's portfolio includes traditional community parks (Swampoodle Park, Swampoodle Terrace, Alethia Tanner Park), underpass art installations (Rain and Lightweave), the NoMa Meander pedestrian promenade, and the broader Underpass Art Parks program. All parks are owned by the District of Columbia and managed by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. The organization functions through a public-private partnership established in 2014 with $50 million in DC government funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Swampoodle Park An 8,000+ square foot community park at 3rd and L Streets NE with a children's play structure, dedicated dog park area, public seating, trees and plantings; designed by Lee and Associates and opened November 2018 as NoMa's first public park.
• Swampoodle Terrace A 5,800 square foot park at the northwest corner of 3rd and L Streets NE serving as a bookend to Swampoodle Park across the street, featuring trees, plants, seating, flexible play space, a shade pergola, a community herb garden, and a terraced entry.
• Alethia Tanner Park A 2.5-acre neighborhood park along the Metropolitan Branch Trail north of New York Avenue, named for Alethia Browning Tanner, a former slave who purchased her freedom and helped establish schools for Black children in DC; serves as the neighborhood's 'backyard' with open space, playground, dog park, and meadow.
• Rain Installation Light installation in the M Street NE railway underpass featuring 4,000 LED-powered polycarbonate rods that illuminate 24 hours a day and pulse in response to traffic flow beneath the elevated tracks; designed by Thurlow Small Architecture and NIO architecten.
• Lightweave Installation Dynamic light installation in the L Street NE railway underpass featuring six spiraling lattices of stainless steel and bent LED tubing suspended above sidewalks, responding to ambient sounds and train vibrations with changing light patterns; designed by FUTUREFORMS.
• NoMa Meander A four-block pedestrian promenade running from Pierce Street to New York Avenue, providing publicly accessible space through private development areas in partnership with property owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4+ parks delivered including Swampoodle Park, Swampoodle Terrace, Alethia Tanner Park, and underpass art installations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Douglas DevelopmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Douglas Development sold the Swampoodle Terrace parcel (1100 Third Street NE) to the foundation in 2020 after five years of pursuit, enabling the bookend park to complement Swampoodle Park.
• Jemal's 1100 3rd LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020The foundation purchased the Swampoodle Terrace parcel from Jemal's 1100 3rd LLC for $3.4 million, representing a key land acquisition for park development.
• Lee and AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018District landscape architecture firm that designed Swampoodle Park, Swampoodle Terrace, and multiple other park projects. Adrienne McCray, ASLA, led the Swampoodle Park design with focus on community engagement.
• Foulger-Pratt DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2016Foulger-Pratt partnered with NoMa BID on a hybrid development and park site arrangement, landing the BID another park site while providing the developer a future mixed-use pad location.
• PepcominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 January 2016Pepco sold a two-acre parcel to the foundation for $14 million, which became Alethia Tanner Park (NoMa Green). Pepco Vice President of Asset Management noted the partnership aligns with their core values of creating green spaces and environmental investment.
• Nelson Byrd WoltzcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Landscape architecture firm selected to design Alethia Tanner Park (NoMa Green), completing design and construction drawings for the 2.5-acre park along the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
• Thurlow Small Architecture + NIO architectencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015Joint design team (Thurlow Small Architecture from Rhode Island and NIO architecten from the Netherlands) that designed the 'Rain' installation in the M Street NE underpass. Selected through international competition.
• Future Cities Lab (now FUTUREFORMS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015San Francisco-based interdisciplinary design studio selected to create the 'Lightweave' installation for the L Street NE underpass. Founded by Jason Kelly Johnson and Nataly Gattegno, the firm explores intersections of art, design, and technology with public space.
• M.C. DeancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015Nation's premiere electrical design-build and systems integration firm serving as contractor for both the M Street and L Street underpass art park installations. A Certified Business Enterprise (CBE).
• Michael Vergason Landscape ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015Landscape architect engaged to provide designs for street furniture and ground-plane improvements for the underpass projects, improving lighting and overall user experience.
• Forrester ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015Construction firm engaged to build Alethia Tanner Park and Swampoodle Terrace. Plans began construction for Tanner Park in January 2019 with expected completion of 10-12 months.
• Words, Beats & LifeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Hip-hop nonprofit that partnered with NoMa BID to produce the largest piece of outdoor art in Washington, D.C. at NoMa Junction @ Storey Park, involving 55 artists and over an acre of murals.
• District of Columbia GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Primary public-private partnership established in 2014 with $50 million in grant funding from the District government to acquire land, design, and create parks for the formerly park-deficient NoMa neighborhood. The District passed the NoMa Parks Grant Authorization Act in 2013.
• DC Department of General ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014DGS partners with the foundation on park land acquisitions and development projects, serving as a key government agency partner in delivering parks to the NoMa community on behalf of Mayor Bowser.
• DC Department of Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014DPR manages the parks created by the foundation. DPR Director Delano Hunter has expressed support for increasing access to public green spaces and partnership in community well-being.
• DC Commission on Arts and HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The Commission on Arts and Humanities collaborates with the foundation on the Underpass Art Parks initiative, providing artistic vision and cultural programming for public spaces.
• AmtrakminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Amtrak works with the foundation on underpass projects that cross Amtrak rail infrastructure, particularly for the underpass art park installations beneath elevated train tracks.
• WMATAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014WMATA collaborates with the foundation on underpass improvements that involve Metro infrastructure, ensuring coordination on safety and operating matters for art installations.
• District Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014DDOT partners on transportation-related park improvements including the NoMa Meander pedestrian promenade, traffic calming measures, and intersection redesigns like the Florida-NY Avenue project.
• NoMa Business Improvement DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012The NoMa Parks Foundation is an affiliate of the NoMa BID. The BID organizes community events (50+ annually) and provides operational support. The foundation leverages the BID's community relationships and engagement infrastructure.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit that restores, develops, and programs urban parks in Pittsburgh through public-private partnerships with city government. Highly comparable operating model as a parks-focused nonprofit with government funding and community engagement.
• Capitol Riverfront BID: Washington DC BID that led development of Yards Park and the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood through public-private partnership and community programming. Most direct comparable for a DC BID-funded park development model.
• City Parks Foundation (NYC): New York City nonprofit that creates and programs park-based cultural and athletic programming and supports park development. Comparable nonprofit parks mandate and public-private partnership orientation.
• DowntownDC Business Improvement District: DC BID conducting public space activation, streetscape improvements, and placemaking in central DC. Similar nonprofit urban-placemaking mandate and DC government relationship.
• Friends of the High Line: NYC nonprofit that manages and programs the High Line elevated linear park through a public-private partnership with NYC Parks. Closely comparable nonprofit conservation/activation model for a distinct urban park system.
• NoMa Business Improvement District: Parent organization and affiliate relationship. Both are DC-based BIDs/nonprofits focused on placemaking, public space activation, and community engagement in NoMa, with overlapping leadership (Robin-Eve Jasper serves as President of both). Directly comparable model.
• Golden Triangle Business Improvement District: DC BID focused on public realm investments, streetscape, and neighborhood activation through public-private partnerships. Comparable urban placemaking focus and funding model.

Regional players

• Casey Trees: Washington DC-based nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, parks, and green infrastructure. Comparable DC nonprofit mission for park and public space enhancement through partnership with DC Government.
• Canal Park Development Association: DC-area nonprofit that developed and operates Canal Park, a similar sustainable urban park with stormwater management features. Comparable DC park development and stewardship model.

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land through acquisitions, partnerships, and policy work across the US. Broader operating scale but directly comparable mission and public-private park funding model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NoMaParksDC
• Facebookfacebook.com/nomaparksdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NoMa Parks Foundation