TWELVE NEW MURALS CELEBRATE WORLD CUP AND SUMMER OF NEW YORK SPORTS ACROSS ALL FIVE BOROUGHS

Approximately 400 New Yorkers helped paint murals across 10,000 square feet of parks and playgrounds in partnership between New York City and Groundswell Community Mural Project

Today, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and Groundswell Executive Director Yvonne Brathwaite joined artists and community members to officially dedicate the new mural at Walton Playground and celebrate the completion of twelve total murals across the city. The murals, announced during the World Cup in July 2026, carry on the spirit of sports, culture, play and community long after the final whistle of the championship. The new murals are the result of a partnership between the Groundswell Community Mural Project and the NYC Mayor's Office, NYC Parks, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Youth and Community Development.

Covering over 10,000 square feet across public parks and playgrounds, the murals celebrate parks as places to play, discover nature and come together. The vibrant murals, which were designed by Groundswell teaching artists with local community input, are records of the neighborhoods they now call home, including their landmarks, languages, foods, music, traditions, nature and some of their favorite ways to play.

Approximately 400 New Yorkers of all ages and abilities helped bring the murals to life through "community paint days" across the city. At these free public events, first-time painters worked alongside seasoned art students, grandparents painted with grandchildren, friends and neighbors worked side by side, and camp groups joined as part of their summer activities.

"It's been a great summer to be a New Yorker, and these new murals are a culmination of all the energy and community that we experienced during the World Cup," said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. "The art now gracing parks and playgrounds throughout the five boroughs is just as dynamic as the communities around it. New York City is at its best when we're outside and together, and this free public art enhances and uplifts the public spaces where we play, celebrate, and connect. It's been a joy to see these murals come to life at community paint days, and we are grateful to our partners at Groundswell and across city government for making this possible."

"Being able to bring 12 bright, colorful murals, covering more than 10,000 square feet, to parks across New York City, has been incredibly special. Our public community paint days for each mural brought together people of all ages and abilities to be part of the process. Anyone who attended could feel the magic of people showing up to pick up a paintbrush, work alongside our artists, and leave knowing they helped paint a community mural this summer. We're so grateful to the artists who brought their vision, energy and love of community to each park, and to all of our partners who helped make this project possible. Together, we've brought beauty, creativity and joy to public spaces that belong to everyone," said Yvonne M. Brathwaite, Executive Director of Groundswell.

"The Mayor's Fund is a proud partner in the work to bring these murals to life across the five boroughs," said Kate R. Smith, Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. "The spirit and energy that the World Cup brought to the City this summer lives on through these works of art, and we are incredibly thankful to the supporters of this project, as well as our partners: Groundswell, NYC Parks, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Youth and Community Development, and of course, the artists who made this possible."

"New York City is alive with the spirit of the World Cup. Neighbors living here for generations alongside newer New Yorkers from countries around the world are coming together to celebrate, and these murals will illustrate this unique moment in our city," said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij.

"Art has a way of bringing people together and making a community feel seen," said NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies. "These murals gave communities a chance to celebrate the culture and spirit of their neighborhoods, and at DYCD, we are proud to collaborate with organizations that create spaces for that kind of connection. They are lasting reminders of what is possible when we invest in young people and create opportunities for New Yorkers to see themselves in the places they call home."

Now complete, these murals will be preserved for one year as colorful additions to NYC Parks' Art in the Parks temporary art program.

MURAL DESCRIPTIONS AND ARTIST QUOTES

THE BRONX

"You Are Here, The Bronx" by Angel Garcia Walton Playground, Fordham Heights

2115 Walton Avenue at East 181st Street (880 square feet)

"You Are Here, The Bronx" stretches across several walls surrounding Walton Playground, celebrating Bronx culture, sports and community. Images of the D train and the local theatre anchor the mural firmly in the Bronx, while dancing figures and hands reaching toward one another reinforce themes of unity and belonging. A larger-than-life young person points toward New York City on a globe, pointing to "THE BRONX". The mural shares images of togetherness, children playing soccer and recognizable Bronx landmarks, transforming the park into a colorful declaration of place and pride.

"The title of this mural is You Are Here, the Bronx, and that adds to the idea that when people look at this mural, they'll feel like they're in the Bronx. It really celebrates the neighborhood and just having fun, and hopefully the mural will bring more people out into the park and get more people outside." - Angel Garcia

"Connecting Through Play" by Victor A. Saint-Hilaire (VASH) Franz Sigel Park, South Bronx

670 Walton Avenue at East 153rd Street (1,200 square feet)

"Connecting Through Play" explores the many ways families and neighbors use parks to play, grow and connect. Four figures representing different generations imagine themselves enjoying their favorite sports, with one dedicated to soccer in honor of the World Cup. A playground scene follows, while a child drawing incorporates neighborhood references including a microphone, boombox, traditional coffee maker, dominoes and skateboard. Inspired by community feedback calling for joy, play, vibrancy and connectivity, the mural also emphasizes the importance of safe green spaces where you can spend time with loved ones, play, read, draw and simply enjoy being outside.

"This mural is really about connecting through acts of play, having fun with family and friends. It's important for us to create spaces where people can feel safe enough to grow and find ways to create meaningful experiences." - VASH

BROOKLYN

"Planet Brooklyn" by Miki Mu Callahan-Kelly Playground, Ocean Hill

2300 Fulton Street (600 square feet)

"Planet Brooklyn" imagines the park as a joyful meeting place where the many cultures of Ocean Hill and Broadway Junction coexist. The mural draws inspiration from the neighborhood's many cultures, foods, sounds and people, creating a portrait of Broadway Junction as a place where communities converge. The words "Spread Love" highlight Brooklyn's mantra and reinforces the mural's central message: that parks can be places where people feel seen and free to be themselves. Diversity, inclusion and equality are central to the vision of this mural.

"I wanted to create something colorful and full of joy. I hope it brings color and joy to people as they walk by. It's the Brooklyn way of spreading the love." - Miki Mu.

"Nuestra Bushwick" by Yolande Delius Garden Playground, Bushwick/South Williamsburg

16 Garden Street at Flushing Avenue (720 square feet)

"Nuestra Bushwick" celebrates the Latin American diaspora and the distinctive character of Bushwick. The mural responds to community priorities around joy, safety, belonging and cultural representation, with food, family, and play coming together as expressions of neighborhoods pride and connection. Together, these elements create a vibrant hallmark of Bushwick, celebrating the cultures, traditions and everyday moments that make the neighborhood feel like home.

"I wanted to capture how people come together, especially through sharing food and enjoying themselves. I really like art as a tool for bringing people together, and I hope this will encourage young people to have a say and feel empowered to act on behalf of their community." - Yolande Delius

MANHATTAN

"State of Play" by Misha Tyutyunik Coleman Playground, Two Bridges/Lower East Side

58 Market Street at Monroe Street (960 square feet)

"State of Play" brings together the sports, people, food, architecture and everyday experiences that define the Lower East Side and Chinatown. Baseball, soccer and skateboarding reflect the neighborhood's active park culture, while a soccer player uses a globe-inspired ball to connect local fields and players to the global spirit of the World Cup. The Manhattan Bridge and local skate culture further ground the mural in place. Together, these elements celebrate the park as a space where sports, play and everyday life bring people of different backgrounds and generations together.

"I hope they see themselves represented, some of their culture, some of their food, some of their history. I hope the community feels included. That's one of my goals when creating murals. Public art is done with and for the public; otherwise it shouldn't be public art." - Misha Tyutyunik

"Small World" by Vincent Ballentine Lily Brown Playground at Fort Washington Park, Washington Heights

915 Riverside Drive at West 163rd Street (1,200 square feet)

"Small World" celebrates the cultures, foods, sports and traditions of Washington Heights. One wall depicts immigrants traveling by boat surrounded by flowers associated with Hispanic homelands, alongside plantains, mangoes and tostones, soccer. The second wall continues the celebration with flowers, papayas, empanadas and shaved ice, alongside children on swings, basketball, tag and a soccer player celebrating a goal. Bright, warm colors create a sense of motion as people move along the sidewalk, while the people, foods, and flowers reflect the cultural identity of Washington Heights.

"I like creating murals that people don't know what was there before the mural was there. It has become a landmark of sorts. It becomes something that identifies the space. Being in New York, we really appreciate the parks - the park becomes our backyard, and these public spaces become cultural elements to staying comfortable in a city that is very busy all the time." - Vincent Ballantine

"Nature Culture Harmony" by Viktoriya Basina St. Nicholas Park, West Harlem

582 St. Nicholas Avenue at West 139th Street (480 square feet)

"Nature, Culture, Harmony" celebrates the natural environment of St. Nicholas Park alongside the cultures and ancestries represented in the surrounding community, including Caribbean, African and Central American traditions and the Lenape people, the original stewards of this land. The result invites families to slow down, look closely and discover the plants, birds and stories woven into the park around them, while feeling a sense of harmony, relaxation and pride in the community's culture and history.

"When people come to see this mural, I want them to feel harmony. I want them to feel relaxed, to be proud of their culture and their history, and appreciate the beautiful natural park that is in the middle of this bustling city." - Viktoriya Basina

QUEENS

"Action Feet" by Peach Tao Montbellier Park, Laurelton

138-17 Springfield Boulevard at 138th Road (180 square feet)

"Action Feet" turns the park's bleachers into a playful celebration of the people who occupy them. Inspired by Montbellier Park's active basketball and soccer culture and its intergenerational gatherings, the design focuses on a mix of feet and shoes belonging to parkgoers, athletes and even animals. Bright colors drawn from the NYC World Cup palette give the bleachers a celebratory energy designed to remain meaningful long after the tournament itself has ended. The artist wanted to highlight the park's accessibility and inclusivity by incorporating elements like hopscotch and a wheelchair into the mural.

"I love the idea of showing how fun it is to be outside and playing sports, and I wanted it to feel inclusive because the park is for everyone. I also wanted to bring in the pigeons and squirrels, because they're part of the fun of being in the park." - Peach Tao

"The Garden of Tomorrow" by Carlos Mateu Emerald Playground, Pomonok

162-41 71st Avenue at 164th Street, Fresh Meadows (360 square feet)

"The Garden of Tomorrow" brings together children, sports, flowers and nature to imagine a hopeful future. Set along a lush, green pathway surrounded by trees and native plants, the mural has a calming presence that connects the artwork to the natural landscape around it. The design incorporates an image of the playground structure directly behind the mural, linking the artwork to the children and families who use the space for play. Together, the artwork and its surroundings create a peaceful, welcoming place where children can play, explore, grow and imagine what comes next.

"Children represent the future, so it was important to me that they be at the heart of this mural. It reflects what already makes Emerald Park special-the sports, the playground, and the things kids experience here every day. The colors are inspired by the park itself, from the blue of the sky and green of the grass to the soft purple tones of New York City flowers. It's really a celebration of the children that play in the park and this community." - Carlos Mateu

"Astoria Always" by Colleen Kong-Savage Steinway Playground, Astoria-Ditmars

20-35 38th Street at 20th Road (720 square feet)

"Astoria Always" reflects Steinway Playground as an open asphalt gathering place where adults, families and young people come together to play sports and socialize. A grand piano references the Steinway name and Astoria itself, while a musical wave travels toward the Unisphere, connecting the neighborhood to the wider world. The mural responds to community requests for diversity, acceptance, connection, colorful imagery, sports and recognizable Queens landmarks, reinforcing Astoria as a place where people from around the world can find community.

"I think one of the things that I love about art is that it brings joy, either in making it or seeing a beautiful image. And joy is what we find when we socialize, environments, community murals, for example. It's a way that our neighbors get to know new people, and we're doing something together and feeling good." - Colleen Kong-Savage

STATEN ISLAND

"The Language of Play" by Mimi Ditkoff Prall Playground, West Brighton

241 Elizabeth Street at Forest Avenue/Long Pond Lane (1,200 square feet)

"The Language of Play" mural explores play as a universal language, using the many ways New Yorkers enjoy parks to connect three separate walls into one story. The mural's octagonal shapes are inspired by a soccer ball, an image of the Staten Island Ferry is included, while the light blue at the top and green at the bottom mimic the sky and grass, subtly making the entire mural feel like a park. A Mourning Warbler, a bird seen in Staten Island during its spring migration, and a monarch butterfly connect the scenes to the borough's natural environment. Soccer is present throughout, but the larger message is about the many forms of play that bring people together across generations, cultures and backgrounds. One wall depicts two people of different ages and backgrounds shaking hands over a game of chess, celebrating a classic New York park tradition and multigenerational play.

"I really wanted the mural to feel multigenerational, and similarly to the World Cup, I wanted it to be a place where you can see play as something that anyone, regardless of background, where they're from, or how old they are, can participate in. I hope that the community feels joy and connection. I want the mural to kind of be a meeting place for connection." - Mimi Ditkoff

"Let's Enjoy the Game" by Lina Montoya Arrochar Playground, Arrochar

71-61 Sand Lane at Major Avenue (1,200 square feet)

"Let's Enjoy the Game" brings together sports, music, cultural traditions and games in a celebration of diversity and connection. Soccer, tennis, skating, baseball, football and volleyball share the mural with dance and flamenco, expressed through colorful skirts and patterns. Monarch butterflies symbolize community and migration, while Indigenous Zenú patterns connect the soccer imagery to Colombian cultural traditions. The mural also incorporates the Manhattan skyline and skateboarding before turning to another beloved form of play: mahjong. Tiles representing the Winds and Dragons celebrate Asian culture and expand the idea of play beyond organized sports.

"I wanted to celebrate people getting together, building relationships, and feeling included in the mural. It was a very successful community painting day, and it showed how we can transform community by coming together and painting together." - Lina Montoya