It’s safe to say everyone in Green River has had a chance to look at the new mural on Flaming Gorge Way, either by driving past the Century Link building across from the Sweetwater County Courthouse, or on the People page of our newspaper last week.
The mural is a fantastic representation of Green River. it is a positive reflection of what makes our community special. From the locomotive to the wild horses and Castle Rock, it’s a perfect celebration of Green River in time for the city’s 150th anniversary.
The completed mural is a major accomplishment for the Green River URA/Main Street organization too as it helps accomplish two pieces of the Main Street Program’s four-point approach to revitalizing a downtown. The mural promotes Green River’s history and uniqueness while also creating an attractive area to invite shoppers to.
We think additional murals should be planned and completed in Green River’s downtown area. Not too many, as they could quickly become distracting if overdone, but one or two additional murals would improve the area further. Beyond additional murals, we think there are a few other improvements that can be made to Green River’s downtown area.
Green River URA/Main Street should consider placing a few sculptures downtown if funding ever becomes available. At one point, not that long ago, Green River was known for an annual sculptor’s showcase that the city would use to purchase public art. We think a sculpture of a locomotive would go perfectly near the city’s U.P. Depot building. This sculpture could commemorate both the Union Pacific and city anniversaries and provide a lasting monument to the importance the railroad played in Green River’s founding. Yes, we realize this is an expensive undertaking, but it would be worth it.
A second idea would be to partner with the Sweetwater County Historical Museum and create an outdoor or traveling exhibit focusing on the history of Green River’s downtown. The museum already hosts a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area, so a collaboration of the two utilizing that walking tour could improve foot traffic downtown. The outdoor exhibits could be simple, sturdy signboards placed in front of various businesses depicting the building’s previous occupants and some historic photos of those businesses.
We’re happy to see Green River URA/Main Street building momentum with its newly-completed mural. a few additions to that mural throughout downtown Green River will undoubtedly improve and build interest in the area.
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