Unknown Studio Leads Master Plan for Freedman’s State Park
Unknown Studio is honored to announce that we have been selected to develop the Master Plan for the future Freedman's State Park—a new 1,000-acre park within the existing boundaries of Patuxent River State Park.
The park encompasses land once owned and farmed by Enoch George Howard, who was born into slavery in 1814 and, through extraordinary determination, purchased his own freedom as well as the freedom of his wife, Harriet, and their four eldest children.
Working alongside Preservation Maryland and Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Maryland Park Service, we are humbled by the opportunity to help shape a place of profound historical and cultural significance. Through collaboration with the community, stakeholders, and project partners, we look forward to creating a master plan that fulfills the mission established by the Great Maryland Outdoors Act: to educate the public about, preserve, and interpret the lives and experiences of Black Americans, both before and after the abolition of slavery.
We are grateful for the trust placed in our team and excited to begin this important work.
We are also excited to be collaborating with a brilliant consultant team: Biohabitats (Ecology), Ziger|Snead (Architecture), WRA (Civil Engineering), Jenn Low (Public and Stakeholder Engagement), Andrea R. Roberts, Ph.D. (Historic Advisor), and Jennie K. Williams, Ph.D. (Descendent Engagement Advisor).