A mural paying tribute to a former Detroit Lion and current Allen Park school teacher has been created, the city’s Downtown Development Authority announced Tuesday, as part of an initiative to bring public art to the city.
“The mural pays tribute to former Detroit Lions fullback and current Allen Park school teacher Cory Schlesinger, honoring both his legacy on the field and his continued dedication to the community,” the DDA said in a email to the Free Press.
Schlesinger played for the Detroit Lions for 12 seasons from 1995-2006. Schlesinger is a career and tech ed teacher at Allen Park High School.
The mural, painted on the side of Alexander’s Dry Cleaners, 5741 Allen Road, was painted by Kevin Burdick, 40, of Flint.
The city’s Paint the Park program, funded by the Allen Park DDA and produced by The Mural People, will feature eight murals by nationally and internationally recognized artists. The DDA says each piece tells a story of Allen Park’s history, culture and pride.
Visitors will be able to experience the full series of murals during the Made in Michigan Festival, Sept. 12-13.
When do the Detroit Lions play their first game?
The Lions played their final 2025 preseason game against the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. Aug. 23.
The Lions open the season on Sunday, Sep. 7, against the Green Bay Packers. The game is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. on Fox.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Allen Park mural pays tribute to fan favorite Lion Cory Schlesinger. Where to see painting
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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