‘A focal place of pride’

white retaining wall immediately to the driver’s left, bordering the highway’s parallel business loop.

After years of blandness and even some graffiti, a group of citizens has banded together to create the Hope Idaho Scenic Mural nonprofit committee, which is currently collecting donations in order to paint a mural on the wall.

Committee member Kathleen Huntley said the group solicited ideas last year and received about a dozen concepts, including a well-loved submission from Hope Elementary School’s fifth-grade class.

After creating a composite of the various ideas, the nonprofit submitted a scale model to the Idaho Transportation Department. Following some color changes and proper permitting, the group is now ready to begin painting in May — funds and weather depending.

Huntley said that the project has seen broad support, and that the Sam Owen Fire Department has gladly stepped up to provide volunteer flagging services once painting begins. Ultimately, she hopes the mural — which depicts a lake scene framed by syringa flowers (the Idaho state flower) — can serve as a reflection of community camaraderie.

“Everyone will be participating,”

Huntley said, “and then it will be a focal place of pride.”

Donations can be made to Hope Idaho Scenic Mural, P.O. Box 316, Hope, ID, 83836. Those with questions can contact Huntley at kathofhope@gmail.com.

— Photos of art (which go from left to right starting at the top of the page) courtesy of Kathleen Huntley. Words by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey.