River to River Greenway - Garlough Tunnel Public Art Project

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

A community pilot public art partnership project that brings elementary students’ outdoor and nature experiences to life in a stunning mural installation in a 95-foot tunnel along the River to River Greenway in West St. Paul, Minnesota, managed by Dakota County Parks. Dakota County and Garlough Environmental Magnet Elementary School partnered with Dodge Nature Center and the Dakota County Public Art Citizen Advisory Committee to bring the student’s vision and passion to the ‘canvas’ of the tunnel walls. Local artists were contracted to facilitate the creative design process inspired by the students and then incorporated every student in the painting and installation of the actual mural. Beautifying this drab tunnel with student and nature-inspired art benefits so many – the school, the local West St. Paul community, and the 300,000 annual visitors to the River to River Greenway. This project brought together an amazing community partnership of a nature-based county park system, nature magnet elementary school, nonprofit nature center, and local public art citizen committee to create a reimagined public space that celebrates student creativity, the natural world, and the diversity of the school and local community.