"This is a major entryway and the first impression most people have coming into our downtown from [I-]35," said Charlotte Wattigny, creative and marketing director for the city's convention and visitor bureau. "A mural in this location would serve as a welcome to visitors and instill a sense of pride in residents."
The mural space is 200 by 25 feet, or around 5,000 square feet, and will cost $100,000, which has been allocated through the permanent art account within the city's hotel occupancy tax fund, Wattigny said.
The mural will be designed to best be viewed from a distance for safety reasons, given its location.
Next steps for the gateway mural will be a design process that includes community meetings for resident input; the artists will need to be able to interpret community input for a meaningful visual, Wattigny said.
"The scope of the project is a lot more than just painting a wall," she said.
The mural will be insured in case of any damage and will be sealed to help prevent graffiti.
"Move forward and art on," Mayor Jane Hughson said.
