Plans for a mural in downtown Wilmette are moving ahead as part of the village’s continued efforts to promote economic development in the village, officials said.
“We see it as a really great project and an opportunity to create a space where people would want to gather and to enjoy to be at and to attract residents and visitors to our downtown,” said Wilmette Village Manager Mike Braiman.
The Wilmette Village Board agrees and recently asked staff to put together an ad hoc committee to help search for a muralist to do the job to and discuss what the painting would look like.
The mural will be painted in Veteran’s Park, in the 1100 block of Central Ave., and Braiman said the village hopes to have it started this coming spring or summer.
“Our intent would be to paint the mural on the entirety of the wall,” Braiman said.
He said the committee will likely consist of representatives from the village’s Human Relations Commission, Sesquicentennial Committee, a veteran, a Rotary Club member and someone with artistic experience.
“We don’t have a preconceived notion of what the art work is going to look like.” Braiman explained. “That’s why we’re appointing an ad hoc committee that will help us identify a muralist and a concept. Of course, whatever the concept we have will be reflective of the name and the nature of the park as Veterans Park.”
He said the Rotary Club of Wilmette may make a donation to the project. The village previously budgeted a $50,000 contribution to the Sesquicentennial celebration but funds went back into village coffers and much of that may be used to help to pay for the mural, according to Braiman.
“We’re hopeful we can complete this without any taxpayer dollars,” said Braiman.
The idea of adding a public mural to the downtown started in 2021 after members of the Wilmette’s Sesquicentennial Committee started talking about how public improvement projects could be a part of the town’s 150th celebration.
Originally, the committee considered having a mural painted in Ouilmette Way in downtown Wilmette, but Braiman’s said the village and the building’s owners couldn’t agree so the village started looking at other nearby locations.
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Veterans Park is one of the smallest parks in the village and according to a plaque in the park it is “Dedicated To Wilmette Residents Who Served Their Community And Country In The Armed Forces.” It was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1983.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.