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Brooklyn Bridge getting revamped with mural project

August 26, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

The Brooklyn Bridge in Grand Valley is taking on a fresh new look with the pier columns and abutments currently being painted by the Riverbend Artists of Grand Valley.

The mural project takes Grand Valley’s slogan, “Nature’s Playground” and brings it to life, with silhouettes of locally found animals, such as a buck, owl, heron, geese, and an osprey with a fish in its talons.

Tony Fenech, Grand Valley’s economic development coordinator, is behind the mural project and says the bridge has a great deal of history and importance to the community.

“It’s one of the biggest assets we have where people are tubing and fly fishing along it. There’s the splash pad there, and they do polar dips and duck drops, and this is just going to change the face of it,” he said.

Fenech said he’s hopeful the project can be completed over the next seven days. The water level along the Grand River is low, which is helping volunteers safely paint the murals without risking any paint going downstream.

Focus on Decorating – Benjamin Moore donated all of the graffiti resistant, marina paint that’s being used for the project.

The project’s approximate cost is $19,000.

Dufferin Valley Paint and Renovations, Sunbelt Rentals, DS Custom Furniture and Cabinets, Julie Van Alstein, Steve Miles, and Sheldon Morris also donated their time and resources to make the project possible.

Initially there was issues with graffiti along the Brooklyn Bridge, which was being covered with patches of gray paint. Fenech said with all of the sculptures in that area, he thought revamping the bridge would suit it well.

With the area also being popular, Fenech noted that the art will be enjoyed by many residents of Grand Valley and tourists.

“Everyone convenes there anyways… bikers convene there, families of all different cultural backgrounds convene there – it’s a really token asset to the community and it’s quite vital,” he said.

Fenech told the Citizen he’s looking forward to the project’s completion.

“It’s a vital intersection and cleaning it up aesthetically and cost effectively, by the grace of Focus on Decorating, it’s going to be a huge plus for the community,” he enthused.

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