Benches throughout the park have been transformed into colorful murals, showcasing the students' perspectives on social issues.
Park visitor Parker Detchon from Hawaii was pleasantly surprised by the artistic additions.
"They add a nice splash of color and some of the playfulness that comes from children's art," he remarked.
Detchon was particularly impressed by the messages conveyed in the murals.
"You can see things like 'Protect Our Generation' and some of the ideas coming from the youth. It's nice to have a bit of a billboard for them."
The murals are part of a citywide program organized by CEI Arts Education. Mollie Roth, a teaching artist with the program, explained the project's goals.
"We did a lot of sketches and they decided their topics and then came up with the idea of mental health and how nature can affect mental health."
Roth elaborated on the participation of students from William McKinley School in Brooklyn.
"About thirty students participated in painting the murals. Their design concepts focused on themes like rising up like a flower, the impact of nature on mental health, and nurturing the future."
One particularly impactful message, according to Roth, was a quote chosen by the students: "'All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today,' giving them the idea of wanting to project things for future generations."
The Prospect Park benches are just part of a larger initiative. Until September, 30 murals created by students from various schools across the city will be on display throughout the five boroughs.
Tia Walker, Senior Program Manager at CEI, emphasized the program's significance.
"Social issues are something we face every day that sometimes politics or people higher up don't really have time to express or show they care about. Students doing that showcases young minds thinking about what they see in the world and wanting to actively change it."
Detchon echoed Walker's sentiment, recognizing the power young voices can have.
"If we empower children to have a voice, that's always going to have a lasting impact because they'll feel they have an influence on the local culture."
The student-created murals in Prospect Park offer a unique blend of artistic expression and social awareness. Visitors like Detchon admire these vibrant additions and are also reminded of the important messages these young artists have for the world.
English (US) ·