New Street Mural Debuts Near Bladensburg Dueling Grounds

A new street mural near the historic Bladensburg dueling grounds calls for an end to violence by the Town of Colmar Manor in collaboration with Operation Arts Foundation, We are Limitless Studios and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. 

The town of Colmar Manor recently unveiled the 5,000-square-foot “Streets of Solidarity” mural at the corner of 38th and Newark Streets created by artists Brandon Bell, Chyna Mae, and Renee Ackerson, with contributions from other artists, residents, interns, and volunteers that brought the project to life.

The mural features two children praying on either side of a sign that reads “Stop the Violence.”

The initiative was part of an $81,500 grant from the state of Maryland last year that also included new lighting to make the dueling grounds safer at night.

The town said the project was designed to help “transform a dark, drab, and sometimes unsafe space” into a community landmark.

Over the summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation told states to remove art from streets, arguing it was unsafe, but research shows that so-called “asphalt art” can lead to a 50 percent reduction in crashes involving pedestrians.