The Enslaved African Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park has been a significant historical site that has not been well-marked or easy to locate. Thanks to a $310,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance has opened up a Request for Proposals (RFP) to redesign the site and bring more attention to it.
The project aims to engage the community, especially those descended from enslaved individuals, as well as artists and designers, to submit their ideas for reimagining the site. This could include public art installations, signs, a memorial grove, or other creative concepts. The goal is not only to honor the untold stories of the Enslaved African people who contributed to shaping the park but also to create a more inclusive and respectful space for the community.
Research has shown that enslaved African and Indigenous people worked on the Van Cortlandt plantation for over a century and were buried at the site. However, much of the information about their lives remains incomplete, leaving many questions unanswered. Historian and educator Cheyney McKnight described the knowledge we have about the enslaved individuals at Van Cortlandt Park as only two percent of a larger puzzle.
Efforts have been made in recent years to raise awareness about the burial site, including renaming the Kingsbridge Burial Ground to Enslaved African and Kingsbridge Burial Ground during a Juneteenth ceremony. Local leaders are hopeful that the ideas funded by the Mellon Foundation grant will make the burial ground more prominent and reflective of its historical significance.
Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, whose district includes the Van Cortlandt area, believes that shedding light on the contributions of enslaved African and Indigenous people to the park will help future generations connect with the legacy of resilience, dignity, and strength embedded in this sacred space.
For more information about the Enslaved People Project and to submit proposals for the redesign of the burial ground, visit the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance website. The deadline for proposals is October 4th.
This project is a significant step towards recognizing and honoring the history of enslaved individuals who have been overlooked for too long. By reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground, we are taking a meaningful step towards creating a more inclusive and respectful space for our community to learn and reflect on the past. Let us continue to work towards preserving and celebrating the stories of those who have shaped our history.
