NYC Parks Renaming Project: Celebrating Black Leaders

In June 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent national dialogue about race and justice, NYC Parks “pledged to demonstrate how it stands in solidarity with the Black community in its fight to combat systemic racism.” Since making this pledge, the Parks agency has named twenty-eight parks spaces to honor the Black community. Many of them are named after prominent Black Americans, including civil rights leaders, artists, activists, educators, athletes, local community leaders, and more. The project aims to “encourage discourse about their contributions, and work to make the park system more diverse and reflective of the people it serves.” For this year’s Black History Month, NYC Parks put together an exhibition at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park featuring highlights from this expansive project. Historical photos sourced from the Municipal and National Archives, the New York Public Library, the NYC Parks Photo Archive, and several other sources are on display in the gallery alongside contemporary photos. These photos are contextualized by wall plaques giving information on the park locations and the Black leaders for whom the spaces are named.

The Great Debate by Hebru Brantley

The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan, is home to a new larger-than-life sculpture. The piece, titled “The Great Debate,” is part of artist Hebru Brantley’s Flyboy series. The artist is known for creating narrative-driven art, often featuring his signature character, Flyboy. Described as “an exploration of what a superhero character of color would look like,” Flyboy can be found in comics, on murals, t-shirts, skateboards, and stickers, as well as in more traditional paint-on-canvas artworks. The 16-foot-tall statue in The Battery “features Flyboy in a stance that represents confident optimism.” The artist, Brantley, suggests, “My hope is that The Great Debate at The Battery will serve as a consistent reminder to hold your head high, stand firm in what you believe in, and keep pushing forward with confidence.”

Flamingos at the Roof Gardens

The Roof Gardens in Kensington are one of London’s most amazing and incredible landmarks. Set 100ft above London, the Roof Gardens include three gardens totaling one and a half acres along with a private members club and restaurant. The Gardens were the creation of businessman Trevor Bowen who employed landscape architect Ralph Hancock. After two years and £25,000, the Gardens opened to the public in May 1938 for the entry price of a shilling. The Gardens have featured over 500 species of plants and shrubs and even imported rock from Pennsylvania and are now open to the public free of charge. Despite the chilly temperatures, these brave flamingos were out and about and let me snap their photo. Thank you, flamingos, we pay tribute to your bravery.