The Washington Gladden Social Justice Park exists as a space for reflection, education, and action—honoring the legacy of Rev. Washington Gladden while responding to the urgent social justice questions of our time. Founded in 2018, the Park continued to serve as a physical gathering space, educational resource, and platform for dialogue rooted in community, history, and justice throughout 2025.

Key Accomplishments in 2025

Over the past year, the Park focused on foundational work to strengthen its leadership, reach, and long-term sustainability. Key accomplishments included:

• Activating a new governance structure with both legacy and new board members, all serving across five active board committees.

• Expanding storytelling and outreach through social media and communications, including the launch of The Park Bench newsletter. The newsletter was sent to 1,507 recipients via print and email, achieved a 61% open rate, and contributed to a 159% increase in web traffic during its launch week.

• Co-hosting biblical scholar and theologian Pete Enns as the 2025 Gladden Lecturer in partnership with First Congregational Church and First Community, with more than 200 attendees.

• Hosting key public programs to celebrate MLK Day and Earth Day, with a combined attendance of approximately 150 participants.

• Launching a national art solicitation under the leadership of the Ohio Arts Council to select artwork to replace the Park’s vinyl murals.

• Receiving approval from the Ohio History Connection for a historical marker honoring Washington Gladden, to be located adjacent to both the church and the Park.

• Engaging external consultants to plan for long-term sustainability, with clear goals and objectives aligned with the Park’s five-year strategic plan.

• Preparing for a future capital campaign to enhance the Park and strengthen organizational capacity.

• Installing dedication signage for the Encova garden area and two new guide stones, bringing the total to 44 guide stones in the Park.

Looking Ahead: Areas for Continued Growth

While foundational work was essential this year, it came with trade-offs. Programming and broader community engagement took a back seat as the Park focused on governance, planning, and infrastructure. This year reinforced the importance of building a strong and enduring foundation to support the Park’s ambitious vision—for its physical presence, its community engagement, and its future programming.

As we move forward, several priorities will require continued attention and investment:

• Building a stronger volunteer base to ensure diverse participation across age, gender, race, gender identity, interfaith perspectives, disability, and lived experience, as well as the skills and expertise needed to implement the Park’s vision and strategic plan.

• Continuing to strengthen our partnership with First Congregational Church as a key collaborator in the Park’s mission and future work.