Image from Google Street View

JAMESTOWN – Public art could soon be coming to the Washington Street Bridge Barrett Ave. connector  in Jamestown.

On Monday night representatives from GA Family Services appeared before the Jamestown City Council to share their proposal for a mural for the street wall at the Barrett St. Exit off of Washington St.

Billy Torres is group facilitator for the Accountability and Responsibility Program at GA Family Services. He told members of the city council that the organization is seeking a use of occupancy permit and a highway work permit from the state that would allow for the mural project to go forward. He said the organization is seeking an endorsement from the city council to secure both.

“We’d like to see if the city would have interest in supporting project and signing a partnership agreement, covering the annual fee of having the mural on the wall,” Torres said, adding that the city’s share of the cost would only be $1 while GA Family Services would cover the bulk of the cost, which he said is several hundred dollars.

“It’s 180 by 26 feet and we have numerous partners and everybody is excited about it. It’s a highly anticipated project.. we’ve gotten great feedback from the state,” Torres said. “If this were to happen the permit we’d only have a about five weeks to work on it.”

Torres also said that if permission is granted, the plan would be to commission a local artist to design a mural focusing on the four seasons of Chautauqua County, with GA students and other volunteers helping to paint.

The cost of the project would be covered by GA Family Services, along with support from various partners and volunteers. The any upkeep cost for the mural, once completed, would also be covered by GA Family Services.

Erica Garcia, GA Family Services Accountability and Responsibility Program Manger, said current community partners for the project include the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, the Prendergast Library, Chautauqua Tapestry, SPOA, Jamestown High School, Jamestown Community College, SKF, and local churches.

In other news from Monday night’s meeting, Mayor Sam Teresi and City Development Director Vince DeJoy updated the council on an effort to secure state funding for a project to illuminate the Jamestown Riverwalk. The project would cost $400,000. Officials are hoping that 50 percent of the funding can be covered by the state’s Consolidated Funding Application program,  and the other half from local foundations. More details on that project will provided during the WRFA’s Wednesday morning news update.