On October 25, 2018 Downtown Frederick Partnership held its first-ever placemaking competition — Pitchcraft — inviting creative people from every background, profession and city to pitch an idea that, if physically implemented in Downtown Frederick, would better connect the people and places of our community. Interested in submitting an idea for the 2019 Pitchcraft? The application opens July 8. More info at downtownfrederick.org/pitchcraft.
After receiving 28 submissions in 2018, our Pitchcraft Selection Committee was tasked with the difficult job of narrowing the pot down to four finalists. These finalists presented their ideas live, on-stage in front of an audience of more than 160 people.
The four finalists who presented during the 2018 Pitchcraft were:
- Bentz Street Dog Park Mural: a mural celebrating man’s best friend, to be located on the City-owned building at the southern end of the dog park. Pitched by Dewey Stewart & Jill Slaughter
- Frederick Bike Racks in ASL: install bike racks that are shaped into the ASL letters of F, R, E, D, E, R, I, C, K. Pitched by Chanel Gleicher & Tiffany Saccente
- Playmaking (now called Candylane): sprinkle Downtown Frederick with over-sized versions of class board games. Pitched by Patsy Dahlheimer & Marie Silverstrim
- The Joy of Music: install an outdoor xylophone in Downtown Frederick. Pitched by Kathaleen Lucey
When the pitches finished, the voting began. Everyone’s $20 entry fee bought them one vote to cast for their favorite project. As the votes rolled in, the room buzzed with excitement and chatter. Within 10 minutes we had our first-ever Pitchcraft winner!
Chanel Gleicher and Tiffany Saccente who pitched Frederick Bike Racks in ASL won by popular vote. But wait! Shortly after announcing our first winner, Sue Hough stood from the audience and offered to fund a second project, The Joy of Music, which was pitched by Kathaleen Lucey. Then, shortly following the event, an anonymous donor was so inspired by the community’s creativity that they funded a third project, Candylane, pitched by Patsy Dahlheimer and Marie Silverstrim.
From one event, we now have three exciting placemaking projects on the horizon for Downtown Frederick.
What’s happening now?
Want to know what’s been going on with our three winners since last October? Read about each project’s progress below.
Frederick Bike Racks in ASL
Project Idea: Install bike racks that spell Frederick in ASL along Carroll Creek Park, near the MARC train station
Pitchers: Chanel Bonheyo and Tiffany Farias
Funding Sources: selected by attendees at the Pitchcraft event for implementation and received significant support from Shockley Honda to cover a project funding shortfall
Completion Date: October 23, 2019
Approval Process (completed):
- Meet with City staff to confirm project details
- Prep and submit a Public Art Commission application; Attend the Public Art Commission meeting to seek a positive recommendation
- Prep and submit a Park & Recreation Commission application (required since the project is proposed for a location in a public park); Attend the Park & Recreation Commission meeting to seek a positive recommendation
Implementation Process (completed) :
- Have contractor prep a detailed plan for the brick paving area that will be installed under the bike racks
- Confirm details for project signage and provide to brick contractor
- Have City sign off on final project details
- Order bike racks
- Coordinate with City and consultant for brick paving area installation
- Coordinate with City for bike rack installation
The Joy of Music
Project Idea: Install an outdoor xylophone along Carroll Creek Park
Pitcher: Kathaleen Lucey
Funding Sources: primary funding from Sue Hough who spontaneously offered private funding at the conclusion of the first Pitchcraft event, plus additional funding for cost overruns by pitcher and the pitcher’s friends and family
Completion Date: June 14, 2019
Approval Process (completed):
- Meet with City staff and others to confirm the project location as well as test a prototype of the instrument
- Seek approval from the Delaplaine Arts Center staff and Board of Directors to become the host and owner of the outdoor xylophone
- Prep and submit a Public Art Commission application; Attend the Public Art Commission meeting to seek a positive recommendation
- Collect additional information to respond to Public Art Commission questions
- Prep and submit a Historic Preservation Commission application (required for projects within the HDO – Historic District Overlay); Attend the Historic Preservation Commission meeting to seek a positive recommendation
Implementation Process (completed):
- Coordinate installation date with outdoor xylophone vendor and hosting site
- Installed on Friday, June 14 on the Carroll Creek Park side of the Delaplaine Arts Center
Candylane
Project Idea: Life-size versions of children’s board games (original project name: Playmaking)
Pitchers: Patsy Dahlheimer & Marie Silverstrim
Funding Source: an anonymous donor inspired by the first Pitchcraft event
Completion Date: September 13, 2019
Approval Process (completed):
- Meet with City to review project ideas
- Determine which board game to pursue based on City input; Completed additional research on project components
- Prep and submit a Public Art Commission application; Attend the Public Art Commission meeting to seek a positive recommendation
- Address Public Art Commission feedback by seeking an alternate spinner mechanism
- Prep and submit a Park & Recreation Commission application (required because the project is proposed for a location in a public park); Attend the Park & Recreation Commission meeting to seek a positive recommendation
- Address Park & Recreation Commission feedback by working with City staff to identify an alternate location
- Develop and submit a Historic Preservation application for administrative approval (required for projects within the HDO – Historic District Overlay)
Implementation Process (completed):
- Coordinate prep and painting dates with City, including alternate plans for rain
- Acquire all materials
- Organize volunteers to paint the Candylane gameboard
- Coordinate with the City of Frederick to install the spinners
- Installation completed on Friday, September 13 on the south side of Talley Recreation Center, near the Baker Park Playground
