Parks in New York City will be renamed after Black Americans in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The announcement was made Friday on Juneteenth by NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver as Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn was renamed, Juneteenth Grove.
To celebrate Juneteenth, the Parks Department planted 19 new trees, painted 19 benches red, black and green, and installed new banners to mark the area as Juneteenth Grove, PIX11 reported.
“In my six years as commissioner, I have been committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces for staff and parkgoers, alike,” Silver said in a statement Friday. “NYC Parks believes Black lives matter — our review of park names and the planting of our Juneteenth Grove is only the beginning of our renewed efforts to address inequities in our system for the city and for our employees. We are doing this, if for no other reason than, our Black lives matter.”
Silver says the purpose is to honor George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and other Black people senselessly killed.
At least one park in each of the five boroughs will be renamed after Black historical figures. The Parks Department will spend the next few months reviewing and choosing names.
The new names of the parks will be announced on Black Solidarity Day, the day before Election Day in November.
