The newest piece of public art along the Route 1 corridor commemorates the often-overlooked history of an African-American community in College Park.

Painted underneath the Baltimore Avenue bridge over the Paint Branch Creek, the mural recreates photographs of residents of Lakeland, a historic black community that flourished near Lake Artemesia from its founding in 1890 through the middle of the 20th century, when it was decimated by a series of urban renewal projects.

The mural, set to be unveiled officially today, August 28, at 10 a.m., was designed by Christine Wilkin, a Roosevelt High School arts teacher, and David Silva, a local artist who graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art, and painted by a team of local artists working with college and high school students. It was funded by a state grant as well as local nonprofits.

Among other things, the mural includes images of a local Scout troop (above); a baseball player; a local church and its pastor; a graduate of the Maryland Agricultural College, which became the University of Maryland; a serviceman on leave during World War II; a Rosenwald school and a school principal; the first African-American mayor of College Park; and one of the first Lakeland residents to go to college.

The mural also shows some nature scenes of Lake Artemesia, which was a focal point of the African-American community, as well as an artistic design reminiscent of traditional African patterns.

It’s part of a broader effort by the city and the university to improve the area around Paint Branch Creek, eventually turning it into more of a “Riverwalk.” In June, the city added rainbow lights to the bridge above.

The bridge is not far from the new Hotel at the University of Maryland, the upcoming Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Innovation, the Varsity student housing and a future Purple Line stop.