The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board, Monday, heard a proposal from Atlantic Girl Scouts Troop 40116, with regard to the entryway to Sunnyside Park near the Fairgrounds. The girls want to fix the two pillars by power washing them, filling cracks and chips with mortar, and painting the pillars white, as they are now. They also wanted to add a mural.

Girl Scout Troop 40116 presents their idea for cleaning up and reviving the Sunnyside Park entryway.

The mural, designed by the girls and painted by Bill Casteel, would represent the various uses for and activities at, the Park, and serve as a sort of map to the park. The Girl Scout Troop also wants to add landscaping around the pillars, and a decorative iron fixture across the entryway. Something similar was in-place years ago, but only the pillars stand today. Central Western Fabricators, in Atlantic, is providing the two metal tube cross-members. The girls will pay for the lettering.

Parks and Rec Member Charlene Beane wasn’t receptive to the idea of a mural on each pillar. Beane said she’s in favor of giving the entryway a “Tune-up,” but she’s not keen on the mural part. She prefers just plain white pillars. Her reason for being opposed was that the murals would have to be pretty small, and they would not read clearly as motorists pass under the arch and between the pillars. She said “Unless it’s really well done, it’s going to look like graffiti.”

Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm gave the girls credit for their creativity with regard to the mural, and suggested if they aren’t painted on the pillars, they can be used elsewhere nearby. Charlene Beane agreed. He suggested a kiosk near the entrance with their art work would be much better.

The Board gave its approval for the girls to begin the project as soon as they are ready.