Betsy Head Park has been beautified with new artwork to motivate Brownsville residents to come out and break a sweat.
The Art in the Parks: Active Open Space initiative, a collaboration between the NYC Health Department and the NYC Parks Department, funds local community-based organizations to create large-scale public art installations to promote physical activity in neighborhoods with disproportionately high rates of chronic disease. The installations range from ground murals to interactive sculptures and were developed to reflect the cultures and history of each neighborhood.
"High quality and attractive spaces in neighborhoods have been shown to encourage physical activity and may reduce health inequalities," said acting Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. "These new public artworks will encourage New Yorkers to enjoy their local park and support their overall health."
BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers worked with Brooklyn artists Chessica Rose, Sandrine Saint Louis and Tarik Lewis to create over 20 artworks displayed on fences surrounding Betsy Head Park. The pieces represent the values expressed by Brownsville residents, such as healthy living, community pride and cultural heritage, as well as physical activities like yoga and cycling, and will be on display through September 2019.
"Physical health is important and beautifying our public spaces is an excellent way to encourage New Yorkers to stay active and celebrate our city's talented artists at the same time," said Senator Roxanne J. Persaud who represents the 19th NY Senate District including Brownsville and East New York. "I commend this initiative and look forward to visiting Betsy Head Park to see the new artwork soon."
Since its creation in 1967, the city's Art in the Parks program has featured over 2,000 works of art in parks across NYC.
