Peekskill, Iona Students Collaborate On Public Art, Economics

PEEKSKILL, NY — Iona University students and the city of Peekskill are collaborating on how public art can propel economic development.

The Business Council of Westchester’s Westchester Innovation Network launched its fourth City Labs project with the city and the university to solve a real community problem.

Students in Iona’s Introduction to Ideation and Design Thinking class will spend several weeks meeting with stakeholders in Peekskill’s arts community and neighborhoods to learn about residents’ visions for developing the city as an arts destination.

Iona’s students are expected to deliver their final report the second week of December on how public art installations can be leveraged to facilitate community building, economic development and tourism.

Peekskill Mayor Vivian C. McKenzie told the students in late October that she thanked them for all their efforts in terms of the art the city is looking to use to market Peekskill.

“We know that art really does produce economics,” she said, “so we’re looking to draw on that and fortify our city.”

The Westchester Innovative Network’s City Labs initiative launched in 2022. To date, Iona students have completed projects in Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Yonkers.