New Murals Honor Civil Rights Trailblazer Alice Archibald

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (November 5, 2026) - A vibrant trio of murals honoring late civil rights trailblazer and educator Alice Jennings Archibald was recently unveiled at her namesake park, transforming the local gathering spot into an open-air gallery.

Artist Solange Peña and her team spent over a month coating the park's basketball courts, splash pad, and gazebo grounds with durable, sports-surface paint. The central piece features a vivid portrait of Archibald in shades of turquoise, gold, and purple, woven directly into the court's playing lines alongside bold lettering naming the courts in her honor.

Archibald, who died in 2002, was the first local Black woman to earn a graduate degree from Rutgers' School of Education and spent decades expanding opportunities for Black residents.

Mayor Jim Cahill praised the new murals honoring Alice Jennings Archibald, thanking artist Peña and her assistants, Middlesex County, and the New Brunswick Housing Authority for supporting the project.

"Each and every time we get a chance to pay tribute to Alice Jennings Archibald, we're going to take advantage of that," Cahill said, noting that the initiative brings accessible public art to the community.