State Park Dedicated To LGBTQ Pioneer
Governor Cuomo announced the dedication of the former East River State Park in Brooklyn for Marsha P. Johnson as the first State Park in New York to honor an LGBTQ person and transgender woman of color. Johnson was an LGBTQ civil rights activist and prominent figure in the Stonewall Uprising in 1969 at a Greenwich Village tavern that marked the modern start of the LGBTQ rights movement. She was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, an activist with ACT UP, and co-founded STAR. Johnson died in 1992 at age 46.
In connection with the renaming of Marsha P. Johnson State Park, State Parks installed the first phase of public art. Decorative perimeter fence entrance screening honors Marsha P. Johnson in two prominent locations: The North 8th Street main gate on Kent Avenue, and the corner of North 7th Street and Kent Avenue. Known for adorning herself with colorful flowers, the design reflects Marsha's style and colors. The park also placed interpretive signage outlining Marsha's life and her role in promoting LGBTQ rights and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. The facility also will receive a new park house/education center, upgrade of signature festival grounds, and installation of public art celebrating Johnson’s life and her role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights. Learn more