Village Hall Mural

Where will your project take place?

Village of Byron

Briefly Describe Your Project Idea:

The Village of Byron is seeking funding to create a mural to celebrate the unveiling of a pocket park, Phase I of a two phase boardwalk to run adjacent to the Shiawassee River, a National Water Trail. The mural will feature the history of Byron and the cultural diversity of its community.

Why does your community need this project?

The Village of Byron is working to revitalize their downtown and business district after a devastating fire destroyed part of the downtown area in 2012. As a part of its work to activate downtown, the Byron DDA seeks to develop programs and infrastructure that might attract more commerce, residents, and visitors to their community. The boardwalk and park amenities will become a central project in the Village’s rebuilding efforts post fire. Part of this effort is creating a pocket park by the river in the business district for pedestrians and tourists to enjoy. A mural overlooking this area would be an excellent way to show pride in our Village and highlight its unique history going back to when the area was originally settled. As well as show the resiliency of the community after the fire. This funding would be a critical piece to kicking off the fundraising campaign and grow the momentum of bringing community together in family friendly outdoor spaces.

What do you hope to achieve through this project?

We hope to achieve this process by aligning the artistic vision of Kevin Hooley with the DDA’S vision of a beautiful downtown mural. We hope this event will take place in mid-August. With this award, it will contribute to the growing momentum of developing this park into its full vision. The mural will be a source of pride and a demonstration that this project is viable and achievable through hard work and perseverance. Residents feel a sense of pride because they can finally make a space to come together as a community and enjoy Byron’s natural beauty like the riverfront. Phase II of the project is to construct a 2-million-dollar boardwalk along the river. This boardwalk would be a catalyst for economic development and increased interest in water recreation.