An exterior cove near the front entrance to Citrus Heights City Hall, at 6360 Fountain Square Drive, has been chosen to feature a new community mural which will soon honor America’s 250th birthday. Photo courtesy of Citrus Heights Arts

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - An exterior cove near the front entrance to Citrus Heights City Hall, at 6360 Fountain Square Drive, has been chosen to feature a new community mural which will soon honor America’s 250th birthday.

The non-profit community group, Citrus Heights Arts, recently announced the results of its community mural voting, confirming that option two out of four mural concept design choices being considered, was the winning entry of 276 votes which were submitted.

Gigi Rayford, its executive director, thanked residents both for participating in the voting process and for helping shape the future public art installation which she described as a “collaborative public art effort reflecting community input and creativity.”

The chosen mural artist will use the winning design as an interpretative starting point, while incorporating their own distinct artistic style vision for the mural.

The finished mural which features is expected to be unveiled to the community sometime near the end of June prior to the Stars and Stripes patriotic celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at Van Maren Park.

The centered wording “Welcome to Citrus Heights - Established in 1997” recognizing its year of incorporation set in white letters on a prominent black municipal-style shield.

In the foreground of the mural, a family and their young children are seen holding hands in a trail-lined, tree landscaped city scene.

 A portion of an American flag, its bright stars and stripes billowing and recognition of the city’s history and origins is also featured in the mural design.

On May 14, members of the Citrus Heights City Council unanimously approved a request from the non-profit Citrus Heights Arts to plan and implement the anniversary mural. Citrus Heights Arts first proposed collaborating with the city of Citrus Heights for the installation of a mural at City Hall back in February.

The new mural is expected to take two weeks to complete, Citrus Heights Arts told the city council.

“While the goal is to celebrate America’s 250-year anniversary, the finished mural will celebrate the history, present, and future of Citrus Heights, with the expectation the mural can remain in place long-term,” the city said, adding that the City Council and City Management have discretion in choosing whether to cover or remove the mural, or any future murals completed on city-owned or maintained property “as deemed necessary.”

The cost for the completion of the anniversary mural is estimated to be $8,000, and the nonprofit requested a $6,000 contribution from the city’s Community Support Grant funding program which was approved. The remaining $2,000 towards completion of the commemorative mural will be funded by Citrus Heights Arts’ own fundraising efforts.