Sankofa Park - Brooklyn, NY

Sankofa Park in Brooklyn holds a significant history as a former burial ground for enslaved Africans. Located in East New York, the park was once part of a cemetery established around 1680. While primarily used for the Dutch Reformed Church community, evidence suggests that some free and enslaved African Americans were also laid to rest here. The park's renaming to Sankofa in 2016 honors this history, with "Sankofa" being an Akan word meaning "it is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." The design challenge was to create a space that was both reverent of its cultural heritage allowing places for respite and gathering, while also functioning as an active play space. This project was recognized and given an award by the City of New York Public Design Commission.