A recently-announced grant will bring new prominence to the Enslaved African Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park — a site that is notoriously difficult to locate and not well-marked, despite its historical significance.
The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance announced on Sept. 18 that the Mellon Foundation has provided a $310,000 two-year grant and that the group has opened Request for Proposals (RFP) to help formulate a design plan.
The first phase of the multi-phase project will involve engaging the community — especially those descended from enslaved people — along with artists and designers to submit ideas to “reimagine” the site. Plans could include a public art installation, signs, a memorial grove or other ideas.
“This project not only honors the untold stories of the Enslaved African people who shaped our park, but also exemplifies our commitment to creating a more inclusive and respectful space for our community,” said Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Board Chair Charlie Samboy.
Research found that enslaved African and Indigenous people worked on the Van Cortlandt plantation for over 100 years and that they were buried at the site adjacent to the family, according to the Enslaved People Project, which documents the history of the plantation.
But records and research remain “incomplete,” and many questions remain about how the enslaved people lived.
“All that we know about the enslaved here at Van Cortlandt is about two percent of a jigsaw puzzle,” said historian and educator Cheyney McKnight in a 2021 presentation hosted by the park alliance.
In recent years, park and community leaders have worked to increase public awareness of the burial site. In a 2021 ceremony marking the Juneteenth holiday, a new sign was unveiled to rename Kingsbridge Burial Ground to Enslaved African and Kingsbridge Burial Ground.
Local leaders hope the ideas funded by the Mellon Foundation grant will help the ground become more prominent to visitors and better reflective of its place in history.
“This project will shed light on the contributions of enslaved African and Indigenous people who helped shape Van Cortlandt Park and ensure that future generations connect with the legacy of resilience, dignity, and strength embedded in this sacred space,” said Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, whose district includes the Van Cortlandt area.
For more information about the Enslaved People Project, see https://vancortlandt.org/epp/. The RFP deadline is October 4; for more information, see https://vancortlandt.org/rfp/.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes