Community-Inspired Artwork Helps Transform McGuinness Boulevard Into a Safer, More Welcoming Street

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June 16, 2026
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Community-Inspired Artwork Helps Transform McGuinness Boulevard Into a Safer, More Welcoming Street

Dynamic art installation inspired by Greenpoint's history turns public infrastructure into inviting neighborhood space while enhancing the pedestrian and cyclist experience

NYC DOT's recently completed art mural at Father Studzinski Square, delivered as part of the redesign of McGuinness Boulevard, which brought expanded painted pedestrian space and a barrier-protected bike lane along the Brooklyn street. Photo credit: Ben Wolf

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the completion of a temporary public art installation along McGuinness Boulevard at Father Studzinski Square, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The new mural transforms 1600 square feet of asphalt and 80 linear feet of concrete bike barrier into engaging and accessible artwork. Artist Kevin Cincotta's community-driven design highlights Greenpoint's history as a marshland and its Polish heritage. This artwork commission is part of the redesign of McGuinness Boulevard to deliver parking-protected bike lanes along the entire corridor, from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge, while making the street safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The artwork is located where Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani pledged to deliver the originally planned redesign of the entire boulevard just days after his inauguration in January.

"Since day one of our administration, we have been laser-focused on making our streets safer for every New Yorker, and that work began on McGuinness Boulevard," said New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. "With construction on the redesign already underway, this public art installation celebrates the people and history that make this community so special."

"McGuinness Boulevard's transformation is about much more than redesigning a street, it's about creating a corridor that reflects the people who live, work, and travel here every day," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "This whimsical artwork brings together community identity and creativity in public space, helping turn a long-divided roadway into a welcoming neighborhood place that residents can recognize as their own."

McGuinness Boulevard Redesign

In May 2026, the city announced the start of construction to complete the redesign of Greenpoint's McGuinness Boulevard. The project delivers parking-protected bike lanes along the full length of McGuinness Boulevard, from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. It will improve safety for everyone by shortening crossing distances, reducing reckless driving and slowing turning drivers.

About the Artwork

Following direct engagement with community members at local events, to share their thoughts on what should inspire the mural, artist Kevin Cincotta developed a design where "together, the elements in the mural tell a story of Greenpoint's past, while remaining optimistically open-ended about its future. It captures the beauty of change in Greenpoint over time, showcasing flora and fauna that once thrived here, when the area was largely marshland, while also paying homage to the Polish community that helped shape the neighborhood into what it is today," he says.

Rendered in Cincotta's sleek and bold style the mural, titled Becoming, features animals that nod to Polish folklore; frogs symbolize transformation and hidden beauty, while birds represent freedom and audacity. The creatures are surrounded by floral motifs from traditional Polish papercutting folk art. A large painted lily pad interacts with planters and other physical elements to seamlessly blend the streetscape into this artful oasis. The mural is located in the painted curb extension and along the bike barrier from Driggs Avenue to Graham Avenue. This project was commissioned by NYC DOT Art in support of the street improvement project.

About the Artist

Kevin Cincotta is a New York City-based visual artist and muralist. After college, he committed fully to pursuing art by traveling extensively for projects across the United States and internationally. Working in a wide range of places and cultural contexts shaped his approach to public art, developing a strong sensitivity to site community and the everyday rhythms of the people who encounter his work. Cincotta comes from a background in music, and that sense of rhythm pacing and repetition continues to inform how he builds images and compositions. New York City remains a central influence on his practice, offering constant exposure to diverse community voices and visual languages. His work draws from natural systems memory and symbolic storytelling, translated into bold color and simplified form. Through public art, he aims to create work that feels grounded, accessible and reflective within shared spaces.

About NYC DOT Art

The New York City Department of Transportation's art program, NYC DOT Art, partners with organizations and professional artists to present temporary public art on NYC DOT property throughout the five boroughs for up to eleven months. Artists transform streets with colorful murals, dynamic projections and eye-catching sculptures. Sidewalks, fences, triangles, medians, bridges, jersey barriers, step streets, public plazas and pedestrianized spaces serve as canvases and foundations for temporary art. Since 2008, NYC DOT Art has produced over 550 temporary artworks citywide. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dotart and @nyc_DOTArt on Instagram.

"Public art is an essential part of reimagining public space. Kevin Cincotta's mural will brighten the now safer McGuinness Boulevard with tributes to the Polish community and North Brooklyn's history as marshland," said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. "I want to congratulate Kevin on this achievement and thank NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn for installing this art piece as a part of the long-awaited and fought-for McGuinness Boulevard Redesign."

"This public art is a beautiful tribute to Greenpoint's connection to the waterfront, our history as a marshland, and the Polish community that has shaped our neighborhood," said City Council Member Lincoln Restler. "Thanks to talented muralist Kevin Cincotta and DOT for transforming what was once bare asphalt and concrete into beautiful art that symbolizes our efforts to make McGuinness Boulevard safer for everyone."

"Something unexpected happened when the road diet first went in on McGuinness. The boulevard became quieter, more pedestrians lined the sidewalks, and portions of McGuinness suddenly became beautiful," said Make McGuinness Safe Coordinator and Co-Founder Bronwyn Breitner. "This exceptional mural from Kevin Cincotta celebrates this new era for Greenpoint while honoring the Polish heritage of our community. It's a reminder that our neighborhood contains elements, both in nature and amongst ourselves, that are more powerful than any highway."

"McGuinness Boulevard is becoming more than a street people move through; it's becoming a place people can enjoy. This transformation shows what's possible when we rethink our curbs and public space to prioritize safety, community, and creativity," said Open Plans Advocacy & Engagement Associate Emily Chingay. "The redesign will help create safer routes for the many students and families who travel to nearby schools every day, while the public art brings color, culture, and joy to the corridor. It makes clear that when we reclaim space from traffic, we make room for joy. We applaud NYC DOT for bringing this vision to life and can't wait to see more artwork on New York City streets."