Flower-themed mural to be painted by Albion Middle Schoolers at Bullard Park

Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Middle School students hold flower-themed designs that will be used when students paint a mural on the former bathroom building at Bullard Park. Pictured form left include Makenzie Cook, sixth grade; Neveya Barnes, eighth grade; and Shayla Higgins, seventh grade.

ALBION – Middle School students will transform the appearance of the former bathroom building at Bullard Park, painting flowers and bright colors to a drab structure.

The students are planning to paint a mural on the building from June 15 to June 17. The district will supply the paint and paint brushes.

The Village of Albion is working to put a tongue-and-groove wood exterior on the concrete-block building. That wood will match the look of the new utility building and bathrooms in the center of the park. That was added as part of $800,000 in upgrades at Bullard, which included new playground equipment, a splash park and amphitheater.

Albion art teachers Kamie Feder and Tina Burgett will work with about a dozen students in creating the mural. The teachers and three of the students – Makenzie Cook, Neveya Barnes and Shayla Higgins – met with the Village Board last week to get permission for the project.

The board gave it the OK and said it would push to have the new wood in place in time for the project.

The painting will be 8 feet high and stretch 36 feet, Feder said. Besides flowers, strawberries and some playground equipment will be painted in the mural to give it a park feel.

In other action from last week’s meeting, the board:

• Accepted the retirement of Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Mary Delamarter, effective June 22.

• Made a motion to start advertising to fill a part-time police officer position. This officer won’t have a regular shift but will fill spot when other officers are out sick or unavailable.

• Appointed Janet Salvatore as an alternate on the Orleans County Planning Board, representing the village of Albion.