MURAL TO BE PAINTED INSIDE CITY FLOODWALL

Plans were revealed Wednesday for a large mural to be painted on the inside of the Mississippi River floodwall.

The North Water Street mural will extend from north of the Broadway floodgate south to Independence Street.

"The 1,200-foot, 60-panel project will feature a historic theme," said Tim Blattner of the River Heritage Mural Association, which has headed up seven downtown mural projects. They include the 500-foot-long, six-color "Wall of Fame" mural on the wall just south of where the new mural will be.

Plans for the mural were announced at the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Each panel of the mural will be 16-by-20 feet. Historic features will be placed on every other panel. "This mural will be unique," said Blattner, explaining it will have a three-dimensional look.

Special paint from Germany will be used, extending the life expectancy to more than 25 years.

"People won't recognize the wall when it is finished," said Blattner. "We'll be changing the look of the concrete wall to one of brick, blocks or stone via paint."

"The timetable for completion is about two to four years," said Blattner. "It will be another year or two before we're ready to paint."

Planning efforts for the mural have been under way for more than a year, said Blattner.

A drawing of one panel for the mural concept by downtown artist Don Greenwood was displayed at the meeting.

Cost of the project is estimated at $200,00 to $250,000, with major funding to come from endowments and federal sources.

Special fence along the way will feature explanations of the historic panels. Some of the trees along the wall will be used in the mural scenes.

Next on the agenda is public input on the mural and the search for an artist. The mural association is seeking suggestions on what historic scenes should be featured. Among ideas already discussed are featuring Louis Lorimier, Louis and Clark, views of Cape Girardeau, steamboats and Civil War scenes.

Suggestions should be mailed or taken to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We feel that the outdoor murals are unique and bring tourists into our area," said Blattner.