Sunset Park's riverfront walkway is taking on new color this week as volunteers keep dipping brushes into blues, greens, and golds for the Art in the Park community mural project. The Tell City Regional Arts Association kicked off the effort on September 5 with public design workshops, and the painting phase officially began today. Families, students, and retirees are working side by side to create a sweeping mural that celebrates local history and natural beauty—steamboats, wooded hills, and the Ohio River itself. Project organizers spent weeks gathering input from residents during community sessions held earlier this month. The collaborative artwork weaves together decades of community memories, from fishing expeditions along the riverbank to the ferry crossings that once connected neighbors across the water. The design also pays homage to the summer music festivals that have filled these same riverside lawns with celebration for generations. Funding comes from a $5,000 Indiana Arts Commission grant and a string of small donations that paid for scaffolding, primer, and gallons of paint.

No one is paid to paint; neighbors simply show up with sleeves rolled up.

Perry Central art students traded their Friday studio time for an outdoor field trip, and a group of local seniors arrived with folding chairs and extra brushes, offering quiet tips to the kids. The mural is expected to be finished in October, just in time for the county's fall festivals. Organizers hope it will draw more visitors to the riverfront while giving locals a reason to linger. The project represents more than just public beautification—it serves as a testament to community collaboration and shared heritage. With Perry County's news cycle unusually quiet this week, the project stands out as a fresh, positive story—proof that in a small town, the most important headlines can be made with paint and community spirit.