SOUTHWICK – A popular place for the local community to ride their bikes, run, or just walk, the Southwick Rail Trail has made a recent improvement.
The Friends of the Southwick Rail Trail announced that they would be restoring part of the mural under the bridge on the trail.
In the past, there have been issues with the murals being covered by graffiti. Due to the graffiti, the Friends of the Rail Trail had to cover up some of the parts of the mural.
Artist Susan Yates is restoring one of the many fish on the mural. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick
“The fish figures were covered up entirely with the dark blue,” said Friends of the Rail Trail President Peter Heap.
The temporary change was upgraded on Friday morning when a few members of the Friends of the Rail Trail were able to get together at the mural and continue their new project.
Local artist, Susan Yates, who has done work for the Rail Trail in the past, continued her work of restoring parts of the mural on Friday.
Along with Heap and a few other members of the Rail Trail, Yates was seen representing the trail in her bright green “Friends of the Rail Trail” shirt. Setting up her materials from one spot to the next under the bridge, Yates was eager to gear up her paint brush with the proper paint color and make progress with the project.
The restoring ranged anywhere from completing fish, scuba divers, seaweed, and more. Heap also expressed how there is a plan to create a “Finding Dory” fish. From the movie “Finding Dory”, the fish would be another great way for parents and their children to challenge themselves by trying to find Dory.
With this positive step forward for the Friends of the Rail Trail as well as the mural, it becomes yet another appealing factor towards an aspect to Southwick that is used on a regular basis.
There are several great paintings on the mural for people to look at when passing by. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“Getting people interested and bringing their kids out there to see it, some people can walk it too,” said Heap.
The supplies that Yates provided for the restoration came out of the budget of the Friends of the Rail Trail, a private non-profit.
The efforts on Friday morning continued to be another step forward for the project, but it is expected to be taken into the fall before the complete restoration is done.
The meaning of starting this project goes beyond just restoring the murals, it’s about doing what is best for the Southwick Rail Trail.
“Our mission is to help maintain the improvements and increase the public’s enjoyment of the trail,” said Heap.
In the next couple of months, when bikes are whizzing by or joggers are in their zone, don’t be surprised if you see the Friends of the Rail Trail along with artists like Yates working on the ongoing project.
