Local Teens Transform Queens Bridge With Vibrant Mural

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

What was once a neglected, graffiti-covered underpass beneath the Long Island Rail Road in Elmhurst is undergoing a colorful transformation, led by over 20 local teens determined to breathe life and hope into their neighborhood.

As part of City Mission NYC’s “City Positive Youth” summer program, the young artists—many of whom attend nearby high schools like Newtown and Aviation—are reclaiming the bridge at Whitney Avenue and Broadway with a vibrant mural that spans both sides of the underpass. Designed by local muralist and Elmhurst native Helen Xue, the piece is a striking blend of emotional resilience and cultural celebration.

“This is what we do with the local kids,” said Lester Lin, founder of City Mission NYC. “These are all like local high school kids and together they work on mental resilience, along with how that impacts, like, community engagement. So if you’re having trauma at home, you’re probably not going to care about the neighborhood.”

One side of the mural focuses on emotional healing—filled with bold emojis, a journal and mirror, and symbols of self-reflection and personal growth. “There’s a wall that is all about emotional awareness, there’s like chains, there’s self reflection,” Lin explained. “And on this side, it’s all about how the neighborhood comes together through food.”

The other side, titled A Taste of Elmhurst, showcases a colorful spread of local dishes, celebrating the area’s renowned culinary diversity. “Every piece of food on that wall can be found along these streets,” said Xue, who designed the mural. “It’s a high traffic area where people can pass through, take a moment to pause in their day and have it brighten up.”

Xue, now 35, grew up just blocks from the bridge. “When [Lester] first told me about it, I was like, Oh my gosh, this is crazy, and it’s humongous,” she said. “But I just love that he always has these huge, ambitious projects that improve Elmhurst. It’s been really inspiring.”

 

Xue designed the mural with two core themes: emotional resilience and cultural unity. She created digital mockups, overlaid a grid to scale the design onto the massive underpass walls, and coordinated a blend of volunteers—adult artists, local youth, and community passersby—to bring it to life. “I wanted to pick a color palette that was pop and bright, something also kid friendly,” she said. One side of the bridge features visual metaphors for emotional awareness—journals, mirrors, chains breaking, and expressive emojis—while the other side celebrates local cuisine under the title A Taste of Elmhurst, highlighting dishes found right on nearby streets.

For Xue, the most rewarding part has been watching the neighborhood come together around art: “It’s always cool to meet other artists. That was definitely a highlight part of this project.”

More than just an art installation, the project reflects City Mission’s larger goal of investing in youth development and community outreach. Alongside mural painting, teens in the program participate in mental health workshops and volunteer efforts such as cleaning streets and maintaining rain gardens.

Student participants say the experience has changed their perception of their neighborhood—and of themselves.

“As people walk by the streets, they seem to feel like embracing the community more,” said Zara, a local high school student who joined the project after hearing about it from a friend. “They feel like there’s like a change happening in the community.”

Zara also emphasized the value of the experience for her peers. “They’ll enjoy it and make new friends… just like, get to communicate with others and just like, have fun. Something to do in the summer.”

The bridge’s transformation has sparked interest—and pride—among passersby, including neighborhood residents and even fellow artists. “We had just random adults who passed by and told us that, hey, they’re also artists, and they wanted to help out,” said Xue. “That was so great to see.”

For Zadid Patankar, 19, the mural represents a full-circle moment. Once a student participant, he now serves as student coordinator for the project. “If you saw this wall prior, it was just graffiti, right?” he said. “That kind of imprints onto your mindset—it’s like, where you’re from suddenly isn’t worth as much.”

Elmhurst, often called the most diverse neighborhood in the world, has become a canvas for both art and unity. “We speak the most languages here out of anywhere in the entire globe,” said Patankar. “Things like this really uplift the neighborhood and bring us together.”

The mural is expected to be completed by early next week, but the impact of the project has already taken root.

“I want them to feel happier when they walk past here,” said Xue. “I’ve always been inspired by art scenes in other cities and I thought, that would be something really cool to have here.”

City Mission NYC hopes this mural will become a permanent landmark—not just of creative expression, but of what happens when youth are empowered to shape the world around them.

For more information about City Mission NYC and its programs, visit citymission.nyc.