Cara McMahan, Montani Outreach Movement (MOMCO), which is a group of five mothers who started the non-profit group in 2023 with the purpose of revitalizations efforts in Hancock County, said the group had decided on the mural after finding through research that murals are a catalyst for community development. She said they decided it would be a great first project for the organization.

McMahan said the group decided a wall under the Randolph Jennings Bridge, which is the original location of the park, would be the ideal spot for the mural.

The park, which opened in 1897 and closed in 1970, went through a lot of changes with a lot of different attractions during that time period, so a committee was formed of community members who had memories of the park. Based on the community feedback attractions like the Virginia Gardens, the Cyclone roller coaster, the ferris wheel and the carousel were included in the mural.

“This mural stands as a tribute to the beloved Rock Springs Park, but it also represents the memories, stories and history it brought to our community of Chester,” McMahan said. “From start to finish, this mural required the support and generosity of many people and we are truly grateful.”

Mary Jean McIntosh speaks to Danny Miller, Newell, as he fires up his 1929 Ford Roadster at the annual 4th of July car show at Chester City Park. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

The mural was funded through grants, fundraising efforts and donations.

McMahan specifically thanked the biggest contributor Hancock County Savings Bank, which awarded them funding through their community grant program, and to area businesses Metsch Refractories and Chaney’s Service Station for their contributions and the Chester Volunteer Fire Department which pressure washed the wall to prepare it for painting.

She also thanked Chester Stanley for assisting with traffic control during the under-painting event, Chester Mayor Ed Wedgewood and the Chester City Council.

“We hope this mural will be enjoyed by generations to come. We hope it brings back cherished memories for those fortunate enough to spent time at Rock Springs Park and that it sparks conversations, curiosity and perhaps even a little history lesson for those who never had the chance to experience it,” McMahan said. “Most of all we hope this mural serves as a lasting reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to preserve and celebrate its history.”

Muralist Kyle Holbrook said he had always wanted to be an artist and with his parents both being teachers his interest is in more than just the painting; he likes to do murals that teach. He wants to do murals that talk about something.

Selah Tuggle, 1, Leetonia, plays with puppy Oliver at the Chester City Park during the Chester 4th of July event. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

He has done several autism awareness murals.

So when approached about the Rock Springs Park mural after being recommended by the former mayor Jerry Barilla, of Steubenville, he was interested in doing the project.

Holbrook said it was a long process in getting pictures of the park from the community.

“This is really a community project, because all the pictures that we used and all the references were from reaching out to the community through Facebook and then I created several designs, which went through a lot of different changes after a lot of conversations and we came up with the design together,” Holbrook said.

Holbrook shared how the painting was expected to take two weeks but took six and how while he was painting the mural, everyday there would be people driving by and would honk at him, and he would say hey back to them.

Melissa Hobbs and her sons, JC Shingler, 6 and Jake Hobbs, 5, take a break from the heat and play in the shade at Chester City Park during the annual 4th of July event. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

“I became one of those connections, while I was painting, it was interacting with people who would come by and tell me their personal stories,” Holbrook said.

He recalled a lady who came by with tears in her eyes telling him that the mural reminded her of her childhood.

Multiple others would stop and talk to him sharing with him what they remembered about the park from when they were kids or what their parents told them about it.

Holbrook used an under-painting technique on the mural, which he said is one of his signatures.

“It’s conducive to collaborating and allows the community to come participate,” Holbrook said of the technique. “The whole school, 300 kids came and did handprints.”

Lance Hooper, Chester, displays his patriotic pride and his 1979 Ford Bronco at the annual 4th of July car show at Chester City Park. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Holbrook estimated that between the students, faculty and community members there were probably about 1,000 people who wrote messages or words to be included in the finished mural during the under-painting process.

Holbrook also noted that the fashions the people in the painting are wearing were meant to show the changes in fashion from the early days of the park until it closed and the people in the painting represent different family dynamics. He said he made sure that people with disabilities were represented in the mural as well.

The mural has a three-dimensional effect where people can look like they are walking on the brick roadway through the painting if they stand in front of the mural for photographs.

Holbrook was excited to show two original tickets for the park he was given — one was a 10-cent refreshment ticket and the other a five-cent ride ticket.

Following the dedication, community members in attendance lined up to take photos in front of the mural.

Ed Potts of West Point checks out some of the classic cars on display at Chester City Park during Chester’s annual 4th of July Car Show. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Following the mural dedication, the City of Chester continued its annual 4th of July celebration with a car show, a duck race, an inflatable area for children, food, a parade, live entertainment and a fireworks display at Chester City Park

Mural artist Kyle Holbrook, who painted the Rock Springs Park mural under the Jennings Randolph Bridge, shows two original Park tickets that were presented to him at the mural dedication. One ticket was a ten-cent refreshment ticket and a five-cent ride ticket. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)