The newly completed 1,100-foot-long mural along the Park Street Bridge on the Emerald Trail LaVilla Link celebrates the rich history of Jacksonville’s LaVilla and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Led by artist Overstreet Ducasse, in collaboration with artists Grace Bio, Dustin Harewood, and Alexi McMonigle, the mural is a tribute to the past, encapsulating the essence of LaVilla and Brooklyn’s cultural legacy. The mural, which took more than four months to complete, was underwritten by donors Rushton and Charles Callaghan.
Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, emphasized the significance of integrating art into the Emerald Trail. “We envision the Emerald Trail as a 30-mile public art gallery that celebrates the unique history and culture of each neighborhood and engages neighborhood residents in the process,” Ehas said. “As we plan each trail segment we are looking for opportunities to incorporate art in a variety of mediums.”
This is the second major public art installation along the Emerald Trail. In March 2019, Groundwork unveiled the Sugar Hill Mosaic, a five-foot high, 96-foot-long mosaic on the Emerald Trail S-Line Rail Trail, under the I-95 overpass near N. Davis Street. The impressive artwork created by RouxArt, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, honors the history of the Sugar Hill neighborhood.
