A Garden Mural for Stapleton Houses

A beautiful, bright garden has sprouted on the walls of the Stapleton Senior Center at Staten Island’s Stapleton Houses. The flowers are made of paint in this new mural, “Flowers of Our People,” which features an array of flowers and residents caring for the garden and participating in activities such as tai chi, meditation, and more. Residents from the senior center, as well as other Stapleton locals, offered design ideas for the mural, which was created by artists from Thrive Collective, a non-profit that works in the city’s public schools to provide arts, sports, and mentoring to young people. 

“The mural has added a vibrancy to the area which was much needed,” said Maritza Rivera, Director of the Stapleton Neighborhood Senior Center, managed by the JCC of Staten Island. “Community members have commented on the pride it gives them seeing artwork and the time and attention given to their neighborhood. Due to COVID-19, we are currently closed to the public and greatly missed by our seniors. We are all enthusiastic about opening and scheduling a ribbon-cutting for the mural.” 

The mural was sponsored by New York City Council Member Debi Rose, the New York City Department for the Aging, Support our Seniors, NYCHA, and the JCC of Staten Island. 

For more information about the mural and Thrive Collective, visit https://www.thrivecollective.org/portfolio/flowers-of-our-people/.