Overview
Riggs Park is a leafy residential neighborhood in Northeast Washington, DC, known for its beautiful brick rowhomes, vibrant community spirit, and proximity to landmarks like the Fort Totten Metro and the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library. Despite its rich cultural history and strong sense of local pride, the neighborhood has long faced a challenge: most people - residents included - weren’t quite sure what to call it.
Often referred to interchangeably as Riggs Park, Lamond, Fort Totten, or Terra Cotta, the area lacked a clear and consistent identity. Even its primary civic group, the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, uses a blended name that further blurs the line between two adjacent but distinct neighborhoods. This ambiguity not only caused confusion but also made it harder for the community to advocate for recognition, investment, and a unified voice.
In the fall of 2024, The Parks Main Street and the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association engaged Regan Agency to lead a neighborhood branding and placemaking initiative that would bring clarity, cohesion, and pride to Riggs Park.
Scope
We began with a deep discovery process rooted in research and community engagement:
Community Survey: With support from PoPville and other local partners, we reached hundreds of Riggs Park residents and thousands of broader DC residents to better understand how people viewed the neighborhood, what names they used, and what they valued most about where they lived.
Historical Research: Drawing on local archives, we uncovered stories and imagery that connected today's neighborhood with its mid-century roots.
Brand Strategy: We distilled insights into a new brand identity that’s both historically grounded and forward-looking, reflecting the neighborhood’s character, diversity, and charm.
Visual Identity: The resulting identity incorporates clean mid-century-inspired typography and color palettes, as well as a brick rowhome icon that nods to the area's most recognizable architecture.
Signage & Placemaking Plan: To help reinforce the neighborhood’s identity and strengthen its sense of place, we designed branded boundary signage, interpretive signs sharing local history, and even a scalable, season-cognizant approach to streetscape landscaping featuring knockout roses and Nandina ‘Gulf Stream.’
The Result
Riggs Park now has a cohesive, memorable brand that reflects its past, celebrates its present, and invites more people to connect with its future. As the signage rolls out and beautification projects begin throughout 2025, the neighborhood’s new visual language will help foster local pride, attract new investment, and support continued revitalization of its commercial corridors.
