New Mural Unveiled at Rockaway’s Beach 59th Street Playground

Renowned artist Sonia Louise Davis, WNBA star Breanna Stewart, and local community members collaborated on mural for the beachside community space

The Beach 59th Street Playground in Arverne unveiled a new mural celebrating the Rockaway community, a collaboration between visual artist Sonia Louise Davis and WNBA star Breanna Stewart. The mural, painted on the back of the park’s handball court, was completed after months of community input.

The mural celebrates the connection between sport, recreational play, and community through art, reinforcing the Beach 59th Street Playground as a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Sonia’s design incorporates abstract forms inspired by sports playbooks from Breanna Stewart and drawings from local youth at Waterside Children's Studio School and P.S. 42 Q, ensuring that the mural represents the community’s vision. 

WOAH (Work of Art Holdings) and Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) facilitated the development and installation of the mural. Friends of the Beach 59th Street Playground and Sol De Vida ensured that the local community was represented in the mural creation process. New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) facilitated the mural’s approval and installation.

The new mural complements the playground’s new inclusive redesign, featuring ADA-accessible ramps, braille panels, and redesigned play equipment. This remarkable transformation was achieved through years of community advocacy led by Florence Ferguson, the leader of the Friends of the Beach 59th Street Playground (FOB59THST) group.  

The unveiling of the mural included a meet and greet with Sonia Louise Davis, community games, chalking for local youth, raffle prizes and music — welcoming residents to enjoy the new element of the space, while engaging them aesthetically and educationally. 

"It is an honor to have this beautiful mural that speaks a language beyond words, electrifying hearts, inspiring minds and reflecting the unity, strength and creativity of our community," said Florence Ferguson, president of Friends of the Beach 59th Street Playground Association. “We are so very thankful for the  gifted hands of artist Sonia Louise Davis, and the generous sponsorship of WOAH in collaboration with JBRPC, Sol De Vida and NYC Parks for making this extraordinary gift to the Beach 59th Street Playground possible."

“We are elated by this newest addition to communal spaces along Rockaway’s boardwalk, and honored that we could play a part in bringing it into existence,” said Terri Carta, JBRPC’s executive director. “Local parks provide a social and emotional outlet, while exposing visitors to nature and inspiring curiosity. The mural is precisely the kind of addition that brings more people to the park, and makes them want to come back.”

“With great pride, Sol De Vida is honored to have supported the launch of the Beach 59th street mural.  With our mission to ensure a home for the expression, curation, and education of the arts on the Far Rockaway peninsula, this mural will inspire youth with abstract artistry leading to limitless ideas,” said Helen Montero, co-founder of Sol De Vida. “We are thankful to have worked with mural artist Sonia Moise, Friends of Beach 59th, NYC Parks, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and Work of Art Holdings.”

“Working with Sonia Louise Davis and WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart on this project has been a true honor,” said Michi Jigarjian, CEO and Founder of WOAH (Work of Art Holdings). “This mural is more than a work of art—it’s a tribute to the spirit of Rockaway. It celebrates the intersection of creativity and movement, and the deep belief that art and sport can move people, build connections, and lasting pride in the places we call home.”

About Art in the Parks 

For nearly 60 years, NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program has brought contemporary public artworks to the city’s parks, making New York City one of the world’s largest open-air galleries. The agency has consistently fostered the creation and installation of temporary public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, NYC Parks has collaborated with arts organizations and artists to produce more than 3,000 public artworks by 1,500 notable and emerging artists in more than 200 parks. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/parks/art. 

About Friends of Beach 59th Street Playground

In 2012, Ferguson, alongside Leonard Yarde, Trishia Bermudez, Deborah Short, Belinda Edwards, and Alicia Mazyck, formed The Friends of Beach 59th Street Playground Association as a public charity and community advocacy group that works with local elected officials and parks representatives to improve the playground’s offerings and ensure its safety. A newly renovated playground opened in 2023, following $5 million in investment from the Borough of Queens and New York City Council. Get involved: @friends_of_beach_59th_playgrnd

About Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy

Jamaica Bay is New York City’s largest and most ecologically productive open space — an unparalleled oasis of nature covering 44 square miles of open water, tidal wetlands, and coastal parklands altogether twice the size of Manhattan — that directly serves more than 1 million New Yorkers who live in adjacent neighborhoods and more than 3 million who live within its catchment area in southeastern Brooklyn and Queens. As a unique public-private partnership that works across city, state and federal agencies, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) was established in 2013 to bring together diverse community stakeholders, elected officials, academic researchers and others toward a common goal: improving public parklands for enjoyment and ecosystem health. Learn more at JBRPC.org.

About Sol De Vida

Founded in 2023 by Brandon Jeffries and Helen Montero-Hernandez, Sol De Vida is a Rockaway-based platform for local artists of all mediums to share their work, secure grants  and network with fellow creators through various programs and events. Learn more at soldevidanyc.org.

About Work of Art Holdings (WOAH)

WOAH (Work of Art Holdings) is a female-founded global art and culture firm based in New York, driven by a vision to elevate the integration of art, business, and social responsibility. Founded by Michi Jigarjian, WOAH is committed to investing in art and culture-focused ventures, developing innovative business models, and offering strategic consulting services prioritizing cultural and social impact. Joined by Isolde Brielmaier, PhD, as Chief Strategy Officer, WOAH brings over two decades of expertise in cultural engagement across private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Learn more at woah.world.