Inspiring Young Minds to Dream Big

Inspiring Young Minds to Dream Big at the Horatio B. Hackett School in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia was created as part of the Philadelphia Eagles Annual Playground Build in 2018. Students produced drawings featuring themselves playing in a new magical playground, imagining their futures and flying towards their dreams. These drawings provided inspiration for the designs, as well as some great actual drawings that are featured as images in the murals.

The school building has an existing mosaic and painted mural facing the intersection of York Street and Frankford Avenue.  The existing mural features a large Celtic dragon and Celtic knots interwoven with fish to show the Irish working class and fishing industry history of the neighborhood.  Added are newly painted bands of color and Irish-themed imagery to help integrate the existing mosaic with the new murals. Left of the dragon mosaic is a Celtic knot and two triskelions (ancient mystical symbols).  To the right of the dragon mosaic, near the main entrance, is a variation of a Claddagh ring – which traditionally represents love (heart), loyalty (crown), and friendship (hands).  On either side of the main doors are halves of a more traditional Celtic knot,  suggesting Hackett is a place where individual ideas and cultures gather together and intertwine to become a united group moving forward with the same mission: to learn and grow.

Synthetic turf field and gymnastic structures were added to the empty asphalt playground. The main part of the building adjacent to the playground was covered with murals depicting “a dream garden of learning”. These images include blossoming flowers, seedpods, and sprouts, intermixed with birds and insects that pollinate and spread seeds. There are also letters and numbers to remind viewers that Hackett is a place where basic building blocks of learning are taught. 

Next to the “Dream Garden of Learning” mural is a building extension leading to the gym. This wall has a mural with student drawings of themselves playing in their new playground.  On the large wall facing the playground is the “Dreamers” mural.  It features a large central mandala. On the exterior wall that faces Haggert Street is a “Dreamcatcher” mural. On the Trenton Street side of the exterior gym wall and flowing over to the loading dock area is the “Fishtown Dreamers” mural.

Mosaic artist David Woods decorated tables in the new playground with tile mosaics matching geometric patterns found in the mural designs.  These tabletop mosaics include a chessboard in the center.

Since 1999, the Philadelphia Eagles (as the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership from 1999-2015) has funded an annual Playground Build that includes the entire Philadelphia Eagles organization, including players, coaches, and staff members, with a Philadelphia school community to transform asphalt school yards into beautiful, imaginative and safe spaces for play and recreation. Mural Arts Philadelphia joined this partnership between the Eagles and the School District of Philadelphia in 2002. Mural Arts leads the development and production of the murals and mosaic tables that are part of these projects. Once a school is selected, Mural Arts leads an introductory pep rally at the school, as well as drawing workshops and after-school art programs with students to involve the school community in developing a theme for the project. Murals are then designed around the theme, often incorporating student drawings and artwork. The projects also include installations of play structures and a mini Eagles turf field in addition to the colorful murals and mosaic tables.