Residents can attend a weekend festival, part of the Cornhill Revitalization Project, at which they can wield a paintbrush to play an active role in the revitalization of the Utica neighborhood.
The Cornhill Spring Fest, beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at the Cornhill Empowerment Center at 230 James St., will feature music, games, food, raffles, tables set up by local nonprofits and activities.
And one of those activities will be the painting of a community mural.
Residents already shared their ideas on the design of the mural through an online survey. Their input led to the design of two mural concepts, on which community members then voted.
Community members will paint the winning design on the outside of the empowerment center during the spring fest.
“This event is an opportunity for the community to come together, celebrate Cornhill and contribute to creating something lasting and meaningful within the neighborhood,” said Tyler Hutchinson, director of strategic initiatives at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, in a statement. “The mural reflects the voices, ideas and vision shared by residents and neighbors, helping to create a space that feels welcoming, visible and meaningfully connected to the neighborhood.”
Cornhill Revitalization Project
The Cornhill Revitalization Project, also known as Thrive Cornhill, is a multi-pronged initiative of the Community Foundation, People First, the Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, the Collective Impact Network and the City of Utica to transform the neighborhood into a safe, vibrant, opportunity-rich place to live.
The cornerstones of the project are two impact centers to be built on James Street and on West Street — with groundbreakings for both expected this spring — that will bring more than 100 affordable apartments; community meeting space for activities and classes; space for local nonprofits to offer services; a business incubator; commercial space; a multimedia room; a gym; and a grocery store.
The Empowerment Center is being used now for some of the activities that will later be housed in the impact centers.
Another related project is evaluating outdoor spaces in the neighborhood and how parks, green spaces and streetscapes can be used to offer opportunities for fitness, recreation, public art, recognition of the area’s historic and cultural significance, improved access to transportation and greater safety.
For more information on the festival, go here.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Celebrate Cornhill this weekend and grab a paintbrush
Reporting by Amy Neff Roth, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
