You might have noticed a new mural at Great American Ball Park this fall. ArtWorks, in partnership with the CROWN (Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network) and the Cincinnati Reds, has painted a 165-foot mural between the Reds Hall of Fame and Smale Riverfront Park, at the corner of Joe Nuxhall Way & Mehring Way.

Designed by local artist L.D. Nehls, it features some of Cincinnati’s iconic landmarks and aims to celebrate how the CROWN trail and the Reds connect people and communities.

“I love Cincinnati and I love trails that are both walkable and bikeable, so I could not have been more excited to work on a project that celebrates both of them,” said Nehls.

Funding for this mural project includes a $30,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation and $25,000 from the Cincinnati Youth to Work program. The program allows ArtWorks to employ local youth between the ages of 14 and 21 to help create the mural.

To date, they’ve completed more than 14,000 public and private art projects in 26 years, including more than 230 permanent outdoor murals.

“When we talk about the CROWN, people’s eyes light up and we can almost see their wheels turning as they think about the fun and meaningful ways to activate the trail,” said Jan Portman, Chair of the CROWN Campaign Cabinet. “This wonderful partnership with ArtWorks and the Reds is a perfect example of the creativity inspired by a safe place to walk, run, and ride.”

The CROWN Capital Campaign has raised $10 million in private funds that will leverage federal and state grants for trail construction through a public-private partnership with the City of Cincinnati, Great Parks of Hamilton County, and the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. Kroger Health, United Dairy Farmers, P&G, and the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation each contributed $1 million to the campaign.

“It’s thanks to the incredible generosity of our community that the CROWN trail network is coming to life, both with more trail miles and new public art enhancements,” said Wade Johnston, Director of Tri-State Trails and Campaign Manager for the CROWN Capital Campaign. “This beautiful mural—at mile zero of the Ohio River Trail and 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail—will remind residents and visitors of all the iconic gems the CROWN will connect once complete.”

Mural Team

Project Manager: Zhaira Costiniano

Designer: L.D. Nehls

Lead Teaching Artist: Brandon Hawkins

Teaching Artist: Sophie Shiff

Youth Apprentices: Jeff Samual, Rashad Manuel, Greg Beridon, Piper Vice, Phoenix Brumm, Kee kee Stokes, Eve Miller,

Aaliayah Ruff, Grace Pearson, Pekko Meyers