With U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Prince George’s Acting County Executive Tara Jackson, and other leaders present for the official groundbreaking ceremony on April 9, the new Civic Plaza is set to open in December, just outside of the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo.
“This plaza is more than just a construction site; it’s a manifestation of our vision to create a vibrant, inclusive, and walkable Largo,” said acting County Executive Jackson during the ceremony. “It reflects everything we believe in – connection, culture, and community. As it comes to life, the Civic Plaza will be a place where families gather, businesses thrive, and Prince Georgians come together to celebrate all that makes our county special.”
The plaza plans to include a lawn and stage area for community events and festivals, a playground for children, an artwalk with seating, and a dog park. Once the project is complete, the corridor will eventually include a sports and entertainment zone, a library, amphitheater, and youth sports fieldhouse.
This project is part of the Blue Line corridor’s revitalization and is funded in part by the Maryland Stadium Authority, which traditionally provides funding for professional sports stadiums. County leaders hope to see $2 billion in investment along the corridor, a needed boon for the County economy amid federal budget cuts and mass layoffs of federal workers.
“When we began envisioning the Blue Line Corridor, our goal was to make Prince George’s County a destination for visitors, and a community with amenities that made the area even more enjoyable for residents,” said Alsobrooks, who served as Prince George’s County Executive until December, in preparation to start her post in the Senate. “This groundbreaking is a celebration of what happens when we dream big and move together towards it with purpose, and we are excited to see this vision come to fruition.”
The Blue Line corridor stretches roughly five miles from Largo Town Center and Morgan Boulevard to Seat Pleasant’s Addison Road and Capitol Heights, areas which some county leaders said have not received adequate development funding since former President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration in the 1950s.
“And I remind you, from Capitol Heights to Largo, [there are] a lot of forgotten communities,” said Sen. Nick Charles (D-District 25) during the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is about turning long-standing disinvestment into lasting opportunities. It’s about making sure our residents aren’t watching revitalization happen elsewhere. They’re living it.”