DANVILLE, Pa. — There are a lot of changes happening outside Danville Area Middle School. Recently community members planted trees, and students built a community garden.
"It's a six-acre plot of land that had no trees, no play equipment, no structures of any sort for the kids. We're creating a full-fledged community park," Danville Area Middle School Band Director Tom Hiravi said.
School officials say so far, nearly $200,000 has been raised for the project, which also includes a pavilion and playground equipment. Some teachers thought it needed a little color, so students made this mural!
"They painted on panels which were then adhered to a 200-foot long wall," Danville Area Middle School Art Teacher Megan Heistand said.
Around 200 students worked on the mural over the course of two weeks.
"I did mostly the backgrounds, so the fish one was like green and blue, so you had to mix those together," 6th grader Jess Pena said.
The project was funded by the Perry County Arts Council and CMSU Health Development Services. The students worked with an artist, but they designed it themselves.
"We focused on positivity, affirmations, and we also focused on local animals and plants and things that when you think of Danville or when you think of the community, what does that mean to you," Heistand said.
Students even included a mink and a monkey to remember the two animals that were on the loose in this area in recent months.
"It was absolutely amazing. I was so proud of myself when I saw it hanging on the wall. I actually brought my dad to go see it," 6th Charlotte Clapper said.
"They're really proud of it. I think when they go to college and come back, they'll show their friends what they did when they were here, and I think it will live on in that way," Heistand said.
The mural can be seen from Route 54 as people are driving from Riverside to Danville.