By Donald Gilpin

The Joint Effort Safe Streets Program, led by community organizer John Bailey, has embarked on the planning for an African American heritage mural project, with completion anticipated by next summer.

Joint Effort Safe Streets, Witherspoon-Jackson (W-J) community organizations, black churches, neighborhood businesses, past and present elected officials, and other concerned citizens will all be collaborating on this project, according to Bailey, with former Councilman Lance Liverman and current Councilman Dwaine Williamson expected to take leadership roles in the planning and organizing process.

“This project will solicit community input and participation to develop a concept; secure feedback, authorization, and support from the appropriate municipal bodies (Historic Preservation, Recreation Department, Zoning/Planning and Council); identify a local black community-connected artist or group of artists to do the project; and identify funds for the project and/or develop a fundraising campaign to finance the project,” said Bailey.

The mural will be located at the historic and newly renovated Mary Moss Playground at the corner of John and Lytle Streets. “The Mary Moss Playground site is a historical magnet of memories, youthful lessons, and everyday experiences for those old and new to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood,” said Bailey. “This is the perfect site for an African American historical art project reflecting the African American experience in Princeton.”

Hoping to have the mural in place by the time of the annual Joint Effort Safe Streets celebration next August, Bailey emphasized the potential value of this mural. “The community needs this,” he said. “It’s important as part of Princeton’s heritage to share the African American experience, and it’s good for kids.”

Bailey anticipated busy months of planning and implementation ahead. “Over the next year, under the leadership of Joint Effort, there will be community meetings and work with concerned citizens, municipal leadership, businesses, black churches, the University, art institutions, and artists, as well as the philanthropic community, to move this historical Witherspoon-Jackson African American Heritage mural project forward,” he said.

Bailey suggested a wide range of possibilities for the content and style of the mural. “It might be something we could change up every year, maybe a mobile mural of some sort,” he added. “Paul Robeson, presidential speechwriter Andrew Hatcher, Judge Bruce Wright, educator Betsey Stockton, former Princeton Mayor Jim Floyd, and many other African American personalities have called Princeton and the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood their home.” Bailey also mentioned police officer Walter B. Harris, killed in the line of duty in 1946; black athletes from Princeton High School who went on to success in college and beyond; and the four black churches as additional possible subject matter for the mural.

“I’m looking forward to working with everybody to make it happen,” Bailey said. “Let’s get the town together and create a positive legacy.”

Another mural in the W-J District was approved last month by the Historic Preservation Commission and is currently in progress on the outer wall of Lupita’s Grocery Store on Leigh Avenue facing John Street. Proposed and sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton, it is being painted by Marlon Davila, an artist who grew up in the W-J community, with completion and a “reveal party” anticipated for late November.