Young artists will provide new mural in downtown Gaylord

GAYLORD — Helped by a concert series, car shows and now the return of Alpenfest, the downtown has experienced an influx of visitors this summer.

The Gaylord City Council Monday night got a chance to improve the area's curb appeal when the panel approved a mural project that will be funded by RISE: Otsego Substance Free Coalition and the Prevention Network.

"It's the same funding we secured for the skate park project," said Ellen Templeton, project coordinator for RISE, referring to new murals that were installed at the city's skate park last summer. "We have partnered with the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts to put together a high-school age leadership project."

More: Gaylord skate park project unleashes power of community involvement with arts

The youths involved in the project will complete a series of 12 classes to create the mural, which will be on the side of the Creative Pursuits building at 130 W. Main St. overlooking Claude Shannon Park.

"They have to work together to come up with the mural and they have been given a leadership role," Templeton said.

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This is a part of the Art in the Alley project.

"We can use this as a community change project. It helps make Claude Shannon Park a protective factor to help decrease substance use by youth," added Templeton.

She said they hope to complete the mural by Aug. 18.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Young artists will provide new mural in downtown Gaylord