Press launch by Fayette County on 5 June 2025
Members of the Uniontown Excessive College Artwork Membership stand beside a Sheepskin Path mural, photograph credit score Fayette County
Often, when the topic of beautifying a park, path or group arises, it refers to cleansing up trash or planting flowers and timber. However one native highschool membership used its skills to deliver some real artistry to a bit of the Sheepskin Path close to Bailey Park.
Members of the Uniontown Excessive College Artwork Membership not solely cleaned up trash and particles on the part of the path between the park and Fayette Road but additionally created and put in pole-mounted mural panels alongside that portion of the path. The group service mission was underneath the supervision of artwork membership adviser and highschool trainer Rebecca Gartley and rewilding coach and meditation chief Robert Hensley of Nature Reconnect.
“I had initially proposed a nature membership at the highschool,” Hensley stated, explaining he wished to “create a possibility for teenagers to get outdoors” and be taught amongst nature. “There’s a ton of science on the wealth of advantages of scholars getting outdoors.”
Hensley stated somebody had launched him to Gartley as a possible adviser for the character membership. Gartley requested him if he’d prefer to volunteer with the artwork membership. He accepted and started brainstorming with Gartley and the membership president. Collectively, they got here up with the concept for the mural mission.
“I wrote the proposal, and we took it initially to the Fayette Trails Coalition to get their approval,” Hensley stated.
The group additionally sought approval from the Fayette County Commissioners and Uniontown Metropolis Council earlier than embarking on the mission. “We had fairly a bit of journey, however we did get approval,” Hensley stated.
Subsequent, the membership had to determine the right way to finance the mission. At that time, that they had a bit of little bit of luck.
“Eric (Snyder) on the Fayette Trails Coalition had launched me to Sarah (Collier), the chief director of the Nationwide Highway Heritage Hall,” Hensley stated. “It turned out she had some arts funding particularly for beautification in Uniontown.”
That funding was capable of finance the whole mission, together with all the provides.
College students work on putting in birdhouses, photograph credit score Fayette County
“Town got here again and requested about doubtlessly including birdhouses,” Hensley stated.
The artwork membership honored that request and took it a step additional, including a backyard characteristic. After acquiring birdhouses from the Pennsylvania Sport Fee, the membership selected a round column formation across the backyard, subsequent to the mural set up.
The mural panels themselves, Hensley defined, are a brief set up and may be modified or taken down at any level.
“They’re free-hanging form of posters,” he stated, with inspiration taken from classic postcards. usually despatched from unique locales to family and friends again house. The theme is “Get to Know Your Neighbors Alongside the Sheepskin Path,” and the panels characteristic vegetation and animals native to Fayette County, together with a little bit of details about every.
“(The concept was) they might transfer within the breeze, and it will appear to be postcards form of blowing down the path,” Hensley stated.
college students show a postcard mural, photograph credit score Fayette County
This communication is a part of the Fayette County PR Initiative, which is funded by way of the Fayette County Native Share Account (LSA) and Lodge Tax Grants in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Basis and different companions. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and advertising and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For extra info, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.information or Jamie Rankin, Journalist, at 724-437-4571, jamierankin13@gmail.com. Comply with Fayette County on Fb.
Be taught Extra: https://southuniontwp.com/index.php/our-area/sheepskin-trail
