Neighborhood Beautification Project, Post #2
A week ago I blogged about a neighborhood beautification project that is underway in Jamestown, NY. Today’s blog continues my coverage of Jamestown’s neighborhood beautification project.
Two local artists (Kristen McNitt and Tara Eastman), as well as several volunteers, are painting a large scale mural (12 feet high by 20 feet wide). The mural is being painted at the Eastside YMCA. The mural, when completed, will be placed on the side of a blighted building located in Jamestown.
When I arrived at Eastside YMCA at approximately 10:00 AM yesterday morning, I was amazed to discover how much progress had been made on the mural during the past week. When I left the YMCA last week, Tara and volunteer painters were painting the well that Tara had drawn earlier that day. In addition, Kristen and Jess had begun projecting photographs onto the mural and tracing the outlines of the images in the photographs.
Mural progress as of 2:00 PM on Saturday, Nov. 14
The first thing I noticed, as I walked into the YMCA a week later, was that the mural was no longer lying on the floor. Each panel (10 in all) had been propped up against the wall. Then I noticed the progress on the mural itself. The photo projection portion of the project was now complete. The sun had been added and was shining in the middle of the mural. Many parts of the mural had been painted to include the well, the sun, the sky, some of the grass and the brick walkway. During the next four hours that I was at the YMCA, waterways and grassy areas were painted, and detailed work was begun on the sky, facial features and brick walkways.
Volunteers painting waterway
Volunteers painting waterway
Kristen begins detailed work on faces.
Mural is progressing nicely.
Volunteer painting grassy area
Volunteer working on details of sky
Tara and volunteers working on details of brick walkway
Volunteer painting grassy area
Another aspect of the neighborhood beautification project is the cleaning of city streets and sidewalks and removing graffiti from the sides of buildings and other places. Yesterday’s volunteer participation for the Clean Street Project was much greater than that of the previous week.
The Clean Street Project volunteers started gathering at the Eastside YMCA.
This graffiti-covered building was the first destination of the Clean Street Project volunteers.
I wonder what the people who live on this street thought when they saw this crowd of people descend on their neighborhood.
Billy Torres, Eastside YMCA Branch Manager, provides instruction to volunteers on work to be done at site. The volunteers went right to work after hearing Billy’s instructions.
Volunteers paint over graffiti
Volunteers rake leaves
Cutting down tree
Volunteers cut down small trees growing alongside foundation. This particular tree was very difficult to remove, but it finally was cut free.
Large group of volunteers!
As one of my blog readers commented last week, Jamestown’s neighborhood beautification project should be an inspiration to all of us to take part in our respective communities. It is such a joy to see young people and adults working side by side as they work towards a common goal of making their city a better place to live. Kudos to everyone involved in this project!
5 Responses to “Neighborhood Beautification Project, Post #2”
It is always amazing to me when many come together to work toward giving back to a neighborhood. Thanks for including us in what is happening to not only beautify, but give the positive back to a place.
wow! that really was something…people coming together for purpose…that is one commendable act!i hope we have more of these kind of project….brings out the spirit of neighborhood!!!
YOu are doing great on the project, Linda. Keep up the good work.Vern
UPDATE:Today's Post-Journal newspaper contained an article about the neighborhood beautification project. You can read the article here:http://www.post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/545540.html?nav=5018
That is awesome. The mural is beautiful!