Community celebrates 'Brownsville Is' installation at Zion Triangle
Organizers say the goal is to reflect the love and identity of the community.
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A new installation at Zion Triangle is giving the community a space to gather and take pride in their neighborhood.
The 'Brownsville Is' project features messages chosen by residents, including "Brownsville is home," "Brownsville is culture," and "Brownsville is Black" on green poles that hold up lighting throughout the park.
The added lighting has allowed the space to host events at night in addition to the daytime.
Organizers say the goal is to reflect the love and identity of the community.
“What do you feel when you’re in Brownsville? What do you think, not what people have told you, but how do you feel?” says Tierra Mack, director of the Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District. “That’s how the words on the poles were created.”
The space is also being used for community events, from farmers markets to book-writing clubs. Longtime resident Violet Young, who has lived in Brownsville since 1945, says she enjoys the vibrancy.
“I love it because we have the lights, and we have functions in the evening as well,” Young says. “I always come to the farmers market, get my zucchini, get some honey for my fruit bars.”
Local businesses are also benefiting from the influx of visitors. Julian Pierre, owner of Julian’s T Printing, says he’s seeing new faces and increased foot traffic.
“I’ve seen a lot of people, new customers coming in, new faces around the community, keeping it clean. It’s been pretty good,” Pierre says.
The next event taking advantage of the space is a farmers market set for Friday, May 30.
