Photo via ANC Nolan Treadway.

Today, Mayor Vincent Gray and other city politicians broke ground on what will become the Chuck Brown Memorial Park.

“Chuck Brown was instrumental in developing a distinctive 20th-century American music genre that incorporated other genres, and he will forever be remembered as a tireless and constant presence in American music,” Gray said in a statement. “I believe we must ensure that generations now and in the future know about this remarkable man, his music, and his connection to the District of Columbia. That is why this memorial is a befitting honor to the Godfather of Go-Go.”

As you may remember, many do not think the amphitheater-less park, located in the Langdon neighborhood, is “befitting” of the Go-Go legend at all.

Without a music space, here’s what the park will have:

The new Chuck Brown Memorial Park will pay homage to Brown with a curved, inscribed memorial wall at the entrance of the new park, where visitors can learn more about his legacy. They can play the outdoor toy drums; visit a central plaza, which can be used for entertainment; and benefit from the further renovations to the surrounding park.

How long until the neighbors who didn’t want a 200-seat pavilion complain about the toy drums?

While the final Marshall Moya Design concept does not include the amphitheater, it seems the firm’s website has some catching up to do. Sigh. What could have been.

Via Marshall Moya website.