An abutment to what was once called the 鈥渃rybaby bridge鈥� in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is now crying out for a new coat of paint. The bridge near the corner of Riverview and Boston Mills roads got its eerie nickname from howling winds and ghost stories. Today, it greets kayakers along the Cuyahoga River, near the Boston Mills Visitor Center.
Down below, layers of graffiti cover the concrete abutment, about the size of two garage doors.
鈥淲here we鈥檙e standing is where we get some of the highest traffic and visitation for the national park,鈥� said Ryan Ainger, CVNP program manager. 鈥淯nfortunately, years of vandalism is what they鈥檙e greeted with.鈥�
The park service is working with the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park to . Ohio artists can submit a narrative of their qualifications, ideas and interest by May 6. A selection committee will announce finalists in July, with work slated to begin in September.
The theme, in conjunction with the park鈥檚 50th anniversary, is 鈥渁 wild urban refuge, reimagined.鈥�
鈥淲e hope that the artists might explore what would a world look like where humans, wildlife, native plants all thrive in a healthy, balanced environment,鈥� said Lindsay Regan, the CVNP director of park experiences.
Janice Matteucci is with the conservancy and said the goal is that once a mural is finished, it will discourage more vandalism. She said she is also hopeful that it鈥檚 the first of many similar projects.
鈥淭hat is the dream,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat as you paddle along the Cuyahoga River, there would be that kind of beauty along the way: Things to reflect on and think about.
