Local Philanthropy Group Has Plans For Mural Honoring Winnetka Nature

WINNETKA, IL — A charity organization consisting of 215 mothers and daughters in Winnetka has plans to paint a mural along the Green bay Trail to bring more art to the village.

Local philanthropy group National Charity League partnered with Friends of the Green Bay Trail to come up with an idea to further beautify the trail by painting a mural at either the Elm or Oak Street underpass.

Plans for the mural include depictions of native species and the beauty of nature found in Winnetka.

"The community benefits would be it would brighten the Green Bay trail and draw locals and tourists to the beautiful trail. It would make the walking experience more enjoyable, and it helps celebrate the restoration of native species, led by the Friends of the Green Bay Trail," National Charity League and New Trier High School student Emma Bladen said.

Before the mural makes it onto the walls under the bridge, the group needs to present renderings to the Village Design Review Board, and then the Village Council. If the council approves the project, NCL would then submit an application to Union Pacific, which owns the bridge, to get its approval as well.

Once all approvals are received, the group can move on to executing the project, which begins with fundraising. The mural will not cost the village or taxpayers a dime, as NCL plans to raise funds from local families and businesses.

Then the painting can start. The group plans to work with the Evanston-based nonprofit Art Encounter to create artwork and a stencil that volunteers will paint onto the wall sometime during late summer, ideally.

"I like the renderings of focusing on flora and fauna. It's a great way to memorialize all the volunteer hours that people are putting into the beautification of the trail," Trustee Tina Dalman said. "As the mom of three girls, my youngest is now a freshman in college, I think this is a really wonderful organization."