San Romero Plaza Designation Act of 2025

Statement of Introduction
San Romero Plaza Designation Act of 2025
December 8, 2025

Today, I am introducing the "San Romero Plaza Designation Act of 2025", honoring San Óscar
Romero and his legacy of justice and compassion reflects the cultural fabric of Ward 1 and the values of
its residents.
In conducting outreach and planning, the Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant Public Life Study1
has made clear that residents want better-designed, more usable and accessible public spaces. Through
its public life assessment, inclusive engagement, design framework, and sidewalk vending component,
the study underscores a community desire for public areas that support everyday gathering, cultural
expression, and social connection.
This designation legislation is the first step in support of a community vision for establishing San
Romero Plaza as a revitalized public space, The adjacent Powell Recreation Center stands as a longtime
anchor for youth, families, and working-class residents in Ward 1. The plaza will create a flexible place
for neighbors to meet, rest, and participate in everyday activities. By elevating a space that already
anchors youth and family life, the plaza will strengthen community connections and reflect the cultural
identity of the neighborhood. In honoring the legacy of San Óscar Romero, the plaza embodies his call
to stand with the vulnerable and foster a sense of dignity and solidarity. His teachings on justice and
community remind us that public spaces are not merely physical, but moral commitments to inclusion
and care for one another.
Naming the plaza after San Óscar Romero honors his legacy as a global symbol of democracy,
compassion, and justice. San Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador, spoke out against oppression
and advocated for the marginalized. Assassinated in 1980 while celebrating Mass, he remains a global
symbol of courage and moral leadership.2 After the request of community leaders, August 15, 2025, was
named San Romero Day. The project underscores the District’s dedication to ensuring its public spaces
tell the stories of all its people through designed everyday places for community.

1 https://publicinput.com/chmpstudy#tab-53445
2 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/13/world/europe/oscar-arnulfo-romero-saint-canonization.html

A BILL

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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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To designate the public right-of-way abutting Square 2675 , Lot 832, at the corner of Sacred Heart 1
Way and 16th St. N.W. as “San Romero Plaza”. 2
3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 4
bill may be cited as the “Saint Romero Plaza Designation Amendment Act of 2025”. 5
Sec. 2. Pursuant to section 401 of the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures 6
Act of 1982, effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official Code § 9-204.01 and 9-7
204.22), the Council designates the public right-of-way abutting Square 2675 , Lot 832 , at the corner 8
of Sacred Heart Way and 16th Street Northwest, as “San Romero Plaza”. 9
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget 10
Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures 11
Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). The 12
Secretary to the Council shall transmit a copy of this bill, upon its effective date to the Director of the 13
Department of Parks and Recreation. 14
Sec. 4. Effective date. This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event 15
of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of Congressional 16
review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 17
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia 18
Register. 19

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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau