Art in the Parks

The Pulse consists of two intertwining light strings with a central heart piece. It is customizable to change colors according to occasion and time of the year, holiday, and cultural celebrations. The Morris Park Business Improvement District was awarded a Commercial District Lighting Grant by the NYC Department of Small Business Services to address commercial district lighting improvements in the Morris Park Avenue commercial district in the Bronx. As a central point of attraction for the Morris Park Avenue corridor and surrounding community, Loreto Park plays a very important role for social and cultural activities, and as a community gathering space.

This exhibition is presented by the Morris Park Business Improvement District.

American Gold: A Ship of Human Bondage is an Augmented Reality (AR) installation based on slave ships and enslaved people. The installation describes the captives as figures made of gold. American Gold aims to draw attention to the monetary value of captives and the inhumane treatment of African captives. American Gold makes the slave ship an almost invisible structure that floats above the viewer, giving the viewer a glimpse of how many people were squeezed into a slaving vessel from below. The installation is part of a larger series of art installations about slavery called Slavery Trails, placed at historical sites throughout the United States.

This mural was created by Peach Tao and features the swamp swallow and black cherry. As part of the Audubon Mural Project, a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change, NYC Parks GreenThumb partnered with National Audubon Society,  Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals on sheds at GreenThumb community gardens across New York City. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and community garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds that rely on green spaces like these urban gardens and native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter.

Stretching across the entirety of Lenox Academy's basketball court, this mural captures the essence of courage, love, and valor through a dynamic portrayal of two iconic figures, Lover Boy and Lenox Academy Mascot. At the top stands Lover Boy, a beloved character known for his unwavering compassion and empathy is the King of Hearts. Opposite stands the Fox King, representing the indomitable spirit of Lenox Academy's mascot. The Fox King exudes confidence and determination, urging students to channel their inner strength and tenacity on the court. Despite their differences, the King of Hearts and the Fox King share a profound connection, symbolizing the unity of love and courage in the pursuit of victory. Our hope is as students step onto the royal court, they are enveloped by the mural's powerful message: to be brave, loving, and valiant in both sport and life.

This exhibition is presented by Project Backboard and the NYC Department of Education.

Table Talk honors the resilience, creativity, and unity of Brownsville. It is part of Pitkin Avenue BID’s efforts to uplift Zion Triangle as a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring public space for all. The installation offers a space for neighbors to come together, share stories, exchange ideas, and find moments of rest and reflection. Translucent hexagons capture and refract light, casting a dynamic, colorful glow onto the surface below. Each hexagon has a handwritten message from community members responding to the prompt: “Brownsville is…”

This exhibition is presented by the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene and the Pitkin Avenue BID.

This mural was created by Farid Hadechini and features the rose-breasted grosbeak and American tree sparrow and red mulberry and America pokeweed. As part of the Audubon Mural Project, a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change, NYC Parks GreenThumb partnered with National Audubon Society,  Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals on sheds at GreenThumb community gardens across New York City. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and community garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds that rely on green spaces like these urban gardens and native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter.

This mural was created by Vanesa Alvarez Diaz and features the northern waterthrush and common foxglove, Canada goldenrod, common boneset, New England aster, and common milkweed. As part of the Audubon Mural Project, a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change, NYC Parks GreenThumb partnered with National Audubon Society,  Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals on sheds at GreenThumb community gardens across New York City. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and community garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds that rely on green spaces like these urban gardens and native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter.

This mural was created by Yukiko Izumi and features the blackpoll warbler and black-eyed Susan, elderberry, New England aster, blue wild indigo and tall boneset. As part of the Audubon Mural Project, a public-art initiative drawing attention to birds that are vulnerable to extinction from climate change, NYC Parks GreenThumb partnered with National Audubon Society,  Gitler &_____ Gallery, and local artists to design murals on sheds at GreenThumb community gardens across New York City. Through a collaborative process between the partners, artist, and community garden group, each mural was designed to feature climate-threatened birds that rely on green spaces like these urban gardens and native plants that birds depend on for food and shelter.

A work from the artist’s Monuments to Motherhood series, the fifteen-foot-tall bronze sculpture honors caregiving in all its forms, recognizing those who nurture, sustain, and support their communities—often in ways that go unseen. Across the country, public statuary rarely reflects these essential contributions, and the role of care remains largely overlooked in civic spaces. This sculpture offers a powerful acknowledgment of those whose labor holds society together and stands as a testament to the generations that came before us.

This exhibition is presented by the Prospect Park Alliance.