Van Dyke III Mural Pays Tribute to Inspirational Brownsville Figures
Rising above an outdoor recreational area at NYCHA’s Van Dyke III development are some familiar faces: boxing icons Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe and former Yankee World Series champion Willie Randolph.
They may be some of the most famous natives of Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, but the community has been home to a number of other accomplished individuals as well. In celebration of that legacy, the images of civil rights activist Rosetta Gaston, actor/author Bern Nadette Stanis, and chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley are depicted along with 14 others on a new mural entitled “We Are Brownsville.”
The 60-by-20-foot mural, created by Brooklyn artist William “GoodWill” Ellis, was formally unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Van Dyke III on June 11. Representatives from NYCHA and developer Trinity Financial were joined by local community leaders and residents for the dedication event, which also marked the opening of a newly upgraded basketball court.
“These investments provide the community with inspirational spaces to play; have active, healthy lives; and to see reminders of strong community members from the Brownsville neighborhood,” said Jonathan Gouveia, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development. “This project is an example of how we can leverage design to better connect our residents to each other and their community.”
Mayor Eric Adams also noted the artwork’s significance of showcasing the “rich history of this vibrant community” and the motivational message it conveys: “This new mural, and the recreational spaces that will accompany it, underscore our commitment to uplifting NYCHA residents while reminding them there is no limit to what they can achieve.”
Van Dyke III, a mixed-use, 100 percent affordable housing development featuring 180 permanently affordable apartments, was opened by Trinity Financial and NYCHA in November. According to Trinity Financial’s Vice President of Development Thomas Brown, the property’s new mural pays tribute to a neighborhood whose history includes “remarkable figures across so many areas of achievement.”
“This mural at Van Dyke III is an inspiration to Brooklyn and all of New York City,” Mr. Brown said. “It’s important that the children and families who live at Van Dyke know that anything is possible. ‘GoodWill’ Ellis has created a breathtaking reminder of that truth: one that these families will experience every day.”
The renovated basketball court also incorporates an art element, which was created by Sophia Dawson and painted by Project Backboard with the assistance of residents and other community members. The space is part of an initiative by the National Sports Zone Foundation that works to build communities through athletics. Prior to the court painting, the City’s Department of Environmental Protection and NYCHA partnered to install a subsurface retention system that will capture approximately 230,000 gallons of stormwater annually.
The Van Dyke III project was funded by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the NYC Housing Development Corporation. In addition to the outdoor recreational space and mural, other building amenities include a computer lab, fitness room, resident lounge, community room, accessible roof deck, and children’s playroom.