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'''Nishiwaki''' (西脇市; -shi) is a [[cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Hyogo prefecture|Hyogo]], [[Japan]].
[[image:MeridianHillPark.jpg|right|300px]]
'''Meridian Hill Park''', sometimes called '''Malcolm X Park''', is located in the [[Washington, D.C.]] neighborhood of [[Columbia Heights, Washington, DC|Columbia Heights]]. The 12 acres (49,000 m²) of landscaped grounds are maintained by the [[National Park Service]] as part of [[Rock Creek Park]] but is detached from the main part of that park. Meridian Hill Park is bordered by Euclid, 15th, W, and 16th Streets.
The city calls itself "The Navel of Japan (Nihon no Heso)." Located at the crossing of the 135° East [[Meridian (geography)|meridian]] and the 35° North [[Circle of latitude|parallel]], the city's Nihon no Heso Park marks the center of the nation. [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] operates Nihon Heso Station on the [[Kakogawa Line]] (in addition to other stations in Nishiwaki).
Much of the impetus for a grand park on this portion of 16th Street came from [[Mary Foote Henderson]], wife of Missouri senator [[John Brooks Henderson]] and local resident. She lobbied Congress with several plans for the neighborhood before getting approval for the park. The land was originally part of Columbian College, now [[George Washington University]]. In [[1910]], after the school moved to its current ___location, the federal government bought the land, and in [[1914]] the [[Interior Department]] hired [[landscape architecture|landscape architect]] [[George Burnap]] to design a grand urban park modeled on parks found in [[Europe]]an [[capital]]s. His plans, later modified by [[Horace Peaslee]], included an [[Italian Renaissance]]-style terraced fountain in the lower half and gardens in a [[France|French]] [[Baroque]] style in the upper half. The walls and fountains were built with [[concrete aggregate]], a new building material consisting of [[concrete]] mixed with small pebbles. After two decades under construction, the grounds were given park status in [[1936]] and have been designated a [[National Historic Landmark]].
As of [[2003]], the city has an estimated [[population]] of 37,249 and the [[population density|density]] of 383.50 persons per [[square kilometer|km²]]. The total area is 97.13 km².
==Statues==
* ''Serenity'' by sculptor [[Jose Clara]], dedicated to the memory of Lt. Commander [[William Henry Scheutze]] ([[U.S. Navy|USN]]);
The city was founded on [[April 1]], [[1952]].
* ''[[Joan of Arc|Jeanne d'Arc]]'', a gift from the "Ladies of France in Exile in New York." It is a bronze copy of a statue by [[Paul Dubois]]. The original is at the [[Notre-Dame de Reims|Rheims Cathedral]] in [[France]]. In a city of many [[equestrian statue]]s, this is the only one to depict a woman.
* ''[[Dante Alighieri]]'' by [[Ettore Ximenes]];
* A memorial to [[James Buchanan]], the 15th [[President of the United States]], sculpted by [[Hans Schuler]].
==External links==
* [http://www.npscity.gov/rocr/cultural/meridnishiwaki.htmhyogo.jp/ NationalNishiwaki Parkofficial Servicewebsite] in Japanese
*[http://www.washingtonparks.net/meridianhill.htm Wasington Parks and People]
{{Hyogo}}
[[Category:Cities in Hyogo Prefecture]]
{{Hyogo-geo-stub}}
[[ja:西脇市]]
[[Category:U.S. National Historic Landmarks]]
[[pt:Nishiwaki]]
[[Category:National parks in Washington, DC]]
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