“Freedom Colors,” by Turkish Muralist Sitki Dogan, was the winning design of a months-long Call for Artists in the fall of 2023 spearheaded by Haverstraw Riverwide Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural enrichment and community engagement through the arts. The first of four murals planned in this historical project was issued through a grant given to Haverstraw Riverwide Arts by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) of the State of New York. Riverwide Arts are the first non-profit group to receive funding from DRI in Rockland County. The location selected for the first mural was the Haverstraw African American Memorial Park (HAAMP), located at 41 Clinton St., Haverstraw, NY. The park is a partnership between the Haverstraw African American Connection and the Village of Haverstraw. With a career spanning over two decades, Dogan’s murals have graced urban landscapes worldwide, capturing the essence of communities and their stories with remarkable depth and clarity. “I am honored to have been selected for this project, said Mr. Dogan. “My goal was to tell the story of the African American connection to the development and history of Haverstraw. I hope the art speaks to that.”
Follow Sitki: @st.doan and stworksdesign.us
Video by Jesse Strauch. Contact Jesse for video work: FB: @jesse.strauch, IG: @jessestrauch

“Haverstraw Taking Flight” Mural #2
November 2024

“Haverstraw Taking Flight,” by Muralist Sitki Dogan is located at 21 Broadway.

“Haverstraw: River to Ridge” Mural #3
December 2025

“Haverstraw: River to Ridge,” by Muralist J. Kenneth Leap is located at 61 Maple Ave., across from Cosgriff Fire Station.

Inspired by weeks spent exploring the village—walking its historic streets, dining in local restaurants, studying its architecture, and hiking High Tor—Leap created a colorful portrait that celebrates Haverstraw's history, community, landmarks, and spectacular landscape stretching from the Hudson River to the ridge of High Tor. Leap is a nationally recognized muralist and stained-glass artist with more than 35 years of experience creating public art.

The mural is composed of four connected panels featuring:

Historic Fire Station No. 3 – Honoring Haverstraw's proud volunteer firefighting tradition.

Hudson River & High Tor – Celebrating the village's iconic riverfront and dramatic natural landscape.

Community & Local Restaurants – Capturing the energy, culture, and gathering places that make downtown Haverstraw unique.

The Haverstraw–Ossining Ferry at Night – A tribute to the village's enduring connection to the Hudson River, with shimmering reflections and the ferry crossing the evening water.

Follow the artist: @j.kennethleap