Don’t Touch My Hair is a culturally conscious immersive experience popping up at Harriet Tubman Square during Newark Arts Festival. Visitors are immersed into the Black woman’s experience and the intimate connection with hair.

The exhibit will be open Fri-Sun weekly until November 15 and is free and open to all.

Harriet Tubman Square Improvements Plan Public Meeting: Recap

On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Newark City Parks Foundation hosted the Harriet Tubman Square Park Improvements Community Meeting at The Newark Museum of Art in which Mayor Ras J. Baraka unveiled the plans for upgrades to the Park.

The event, live-streamed for those unable to attend, featured a virtual tour of The Harriet Tubman Monument led by architect Nina Cooke John, followed by DreamPlay Media’s trailer “Black Moses Rising,” highlighting the project’s vision. Marcy DePina outlined community meeting results, Mayor Ras J. Baraka emphasized the project’s significance, and Jan Saltiel Rafel of Edgewater Design presented the park’s improvement plan. Comfort Station plans were presented by Nina Cooke John of Studio Cooke John Architecture + Design, and a captivating video performance by Kween Moore titled “Auburn Eyes” added artistic flair.

After a year of community engagement and surveys, the improvement plan was designed to protect the integrity of the historic park, as a key feature in the James Street Commons Historic District. The focal points of the plan’s design are to preserve the existing healthy trees, incorporate the community’s desired amenities, and address the need for structural repairs.

The new plans includes:

Improved lighting and electricity
Repair of pathways and entrance plazas
Inclusion of additional native plantings to help mitigate erosion
Benches
Expanded program area with amphitheater style seating
Playground with two sections for younger and older children
Comfort Station with two family bathrooms

Thank you to all who have participated in this process that will improve and preserve our Harriet Tubman Square for generations to come. For those who missed the event, the live stream is available here, and we invite everyone to contribute their feedback through the survey found here.