Thirteen months after construction began, a new park is taking shape above an underpass in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, inspired by a vision sketched more than 60 years ago. The project involves covering the existing underpass on Connecticut Avenue with steel and concrete, creating a green public space atop the roadway.

The idea traces back to artist Lily Spandorf, a Jewish woman born in 1914 who fled Vienna during the upheaval of Kristallnacht in 1938. Settling in Washington, she was drawn to the city’s European architectural influences and the character of the Dupont Circle area. From her studio window overlooking the underpass, she envisioned transforming the congested street space into a lively urban oasis. Her drawing, which she labeled “Connecticut Avenue Mall,” depicted a park filled with greenery, fountains, and pedestrians.

Spandorf’s artwork resurfaced decades later after the building where she lived was demolished to accommodate a new Metro entrance. The drawing was discovered by Michael Feldstein and later presented to Michael Kain, chief executive officer of a local real estate development company. Kain’s office is located across from Spandorf’s former residence, and he recognized the potential to bring her concept to fruition.

The current “deckover” project aims to realize Spandorf’s vision by capping the underpass and creating an elevated park that connects the neighborhood and offers residents recreational space. The initiative reflects a broader trend in urban design focused on reclaiming transportation corridors to enhance public spaces and improve city livability.

While formal details about the project's completion timeline and funding have not been widely publicized, construction has proceeded steadily since breaking ground just over a year ago. The park is expected to provide a new amenity for Dupont Circle, linking existing green areas and enhancing pedestrian access along the busy Connecticut Avenue corridor.

This redevelopment effort demonstrates how historic artistic perspectives can influence contemporary urban planning, turning once overlooked infrastructure spaces into community assets. The growing interest in deckover projects across major cities underlines their potential to revitalize urban environments by bridging functional infrastructure with public green space.