Mental Health Mural Bench Background at Clove Lakes Park

STATEN ISLAND, NY – As you walk into Clove Lakes from a small park called Norbert Leesberg Perennial Gardens near Victory Boulevard off Clove Road, you’ll see Staten Island students from South Richmond High School making a statement about mental health awareness in a powerful mural they painted on a bench. The mural was installed in Clove Lakes Park as part of CEI’s citywide exhibition, “Benchmarks,” which is part of the “Youth Setting the Standard for Social Change” program created by the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) in collaboration with the New York City Parks Department.

“This bench is about mental health, even if things are tough, there’s always a way to bounce back and become stronger. I left the drip there to represent that sometimes life can fall apart,” seventh-grade artist Nicholas Gonzalez said.

Another student, Anya Willis, added: “Mental health can affect our lives. We need to improve our mental health so that we can live a good life in the future and have a clear mindset on what we need to do instead of being in a foggy state.”

The bench mural at Clove Lakes Park is more than just a work of art, it’s a symbol of hope and change. Created by students from PS/IS 25 South Richmond High School, the mural is part of a student exhibition showcasing 30 benches in parks across New York City. This initiative is a testament to the transformative power of art and how it empowers students to speak out on important issues and make a lasting impact on our communities.