On November 2, approximately 50 elected officials, community leaders, and Anne Arundel County residents attended the unveiling and ribbon cutting of a mural on the newly refurbished Bacontown basketball courts. The mural and the rebuilt courts came about through the Neighborhood Rebound Project, the brainchild of Kyle Williams, CEO of the local design company Tunnel Vision, and local artist Comacell Brown.
Williams, a Towson graduate, founded his company on the belief that sports can foster social connections and encourage active lifestyles. He called the Bacontown project a way to use sports as a tool for empowerment. Williams is also co-founder of the Chase Your Dreams initiative, a local non-profit organization that has called upon Brown’s muralist skills in the past, including for a similar basketball court renovation at Meade Village.
Brown told The Russett Reader, “What I wanted to do was to really be mindful of this community’s history and pay homage to all of the descendants of slaves who have connections to this land and area. You’ll see, for example, a nod to the church across the street.” The mural even incorporates Maria Bacon’s initials.
Maria Bacon, or Ma Bacon as she was affectionately called, was deeded the Bacontown property shortly after gaining her freedom from slavery in 1860. Some of her descendants were in attendance and were brought to tears by the dedication event. Shanita, a great-great-great-granddaughter, shared that “It was moving, knowing that while most Black history is not usually acknowledged, it is an honor that she received such recognition.”
The project was a collaboration among the Chase Your Dreams initiative, the Laurel Race Course Impact Fund, Anne Arundel County Rec and Parks, the Office of the County Executive, and DTLR, an urban streetwear brand that provided volunteers to work on the project as part of its Dare to Live Right outreach program.
The Bacontown project was praised for illustrating Anne Arundel County’s ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives that foster community engagement and celebrate local heritage.
Brenda Zeigler-Riley is a retired educator and entrepreneur with a marketing, public relations, and fundraising background. Please send information on Russett/Maryland City (historical pieces, stories from first responders, hometown memories, resident profiles, etc.) to russett.mdcinfo@gmail.com.
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