By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The next step in beautifying Great Bend’s downtown entertainment district is
coming up Sept. 10 with a community paint day for the art
alley.
The final Friday of the month, from spring to fall, a portion of Forest Avenue
is barricaded for live music, food and beverages. This year, the consumption
area was extended to the alleyway between Forest and Lakin Avenue.
The Great Bend City Council gave approval to paint a mural along the ground of
the alley, to inspire more art throughout the community.
Great Bend Economic Development Director Sara Hayden said the community paint day
will start at 8 a.m. with citizens able to register for painting shifts.
"It will be like a 'paint by numbers' project," said Hayden. "When volunteers come, they'll be given a number, paint can and a paint brush. They will paint the numbers that coincide with that can and brush. They get to tell everybody that they helped with a community mural."
Great Bend Alive, Inc., under the umbrella of Great Bend Economic Development,
had L&M Contractors fill and patch potholes in the alley. The organization
is now looking for donations or sponsorships to raise $5,000 for painting
supplies.
"We will need about 100 gallons of paint and a clear protective coat that goes over the top," said Hayden. "Doing a community paint day, we'll have to have a good amount of supplies to be able to keep everybody going throughout the day."
The paint will be rated for cars to drive over it, but Hayden estimated the
alleyway paint will need to be refreshed after three or four years.
This spring the outdoor events took on the name “Final Fridays on Forest” and run from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Citizens are allowed to order alcoholic drinks, buy food, listen to music and enjoy entertainment while staying inside the consumption district.
Visit gbedinc.com to find out how to donate to the project or sign up to
help paint.