Spraygrounds Public Art Project Opens 3 Calls for Artists with March 15th Deadline

HARRISONBURG, VA – Arts Council of the Valley, in collaboration with the City of Harrisonburg, the Northeast Neighborhood Association, and two private project donors, is seeking original, non-AI-generated artistic design submissions for three works of art – a mosaic, an archway and freestanding sculpture(s) – to be installed at the Spraygrounds at Harrisonburg’s Ralph Sampson Park.

The 6,000-square-foot Spraygrounds at Ralph Sampson Park opened July 1, 2025, with 36 spray features and interactive elements designed for various ages. Harrisonburg residents Steve and Chris Carpenter wish to privately fund the design and installation of public artworks at three Spraygrounds locations:

• East exterior wall of the pumphouse, for a mosaic installation.
• Main entry to the Spraygrounds, to provide a welcoming archway over the sidewalk, similar to arches at A Dream Come True playground and the new Kids Castle.
• Roundabout near the entrance to the Spraygrounds, for sculptural work(s).

This invitation is extended to all artists age 18 and older without regard to place of residency. Artists of color are encouraged to apply. There is no entry fee. Artists are encouraged to consider the designs and primary colors incorporated into the Spraygrounds; the history of the Northeast Neighborhood; and the joyful nature of children at play. Upon completion, ownership of the artworks will be conveyed to the City of Harrisonburg.

Original, non-AI-generated artistic design submissions are due by 11:59 pm March 15, 2026. Additional information and the individual artist calls are available at
valleyarts.org/public-art-spraygrounds-project.

A juried panel will review all entries and make a recommendation to City Council prior to the selection of one artist for each of the three projects. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status on or before April 22, 2026.

Ralph Sampson Park is a City park located in the City of Harrisonburg’s Northeast Neighborhood, which includes the Newtown community originally settled by formerly enslaved people in 1869 and later grew into a thriving African American community. On the site of Ralph Sampson Park was the former plantation Hilltop. Within Ralph Sampson Park and immediately adjacent to the Spraygrounds is the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center. The two-story brick school was built between 1938–1939 to serve African-American students, and named for Lucy F. Simms, an African American teacher born into slavery in 1855 on the very land where the school stands. The Lucy F. Simms School served as the center of the Newtown community, and education went beyond academics and extended to athletics, music, and citizenship.The Spraygrounds were constructed on the school’s former baseball field. A history of the Lucy F. Simms School is available at: https://omeka.lib.jmu.edu/simms/.

Although the Northeast Neighborhood comprises just 1.7% of the City’s total footprint, its historical significance is profound. During Urban Renewal in the 1950s and 1960s, major infrastructure projects fractured the Neighborhood’s cultural and physical assets, disrupting a thriving Black community and leaving lasting scars. The Small Area Plan lays out a path toward healing past injustices and building a more equitable future. The plan reflects the City’s commitment to prioritizing the Northeast Neighborhood for meaningful investment and improvement, and to holding the City accountable for that promise.

Project donors Steve and Chris Carpenter have lived in Harrisonburg for 23 years, actively attending church on the 400 Kelley Street site of the City’s historic segregated pool; and learning of the trauma the Northeast Neighborhood community experienced during 1950s-1960s Urban Renewal. Their exuberant experience of public art during their travels led the Carpenters to propose a collaboration designed to add an extra touch of creativity and joy to the new Spraygrounds, while also recognizing the neighborhood’s history.

A November 20, 2025 public meeting introduced the project to Northeast Neighborhood community members, generating ideas for the new works of art and preferred locations. Feedback from the meeting was used to select the three locations and develop content themes.
For more information on the Spraygrounds public art project, contact ACV Executive Director Jenny Burden at acvdirector@gmail.com or 540.801.8779.

Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) is located at 311 South Main Street in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Programs are supported in part by 2026 ACV Sponsors Kathy Moran Wealth Group and Riner Rentals.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit, ACV is dedicated to cultivating the arts, creating experiences, and connecting communities throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Since it was established in 2000, ACV has grown into a multi-faceted community organization that fosters innovative partnerships among area businesses, civic organizations, schools, and artists. Today, ACV manages Smith House Galleries, funds local art projects through its Advancing the Arts grant program (awarding more than $524,800 since 2001), supports public art initiatives, and coordinates monthly First Fridays of the Valley community gatherings.

ACV is supported in part by the City of Harrisonburg and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly. To learn more, visit valleyarts.org.

This press release was provided by Ann Leatherwood at Arts Council of the Valley.