Wheeling Park High School art students teamed up with local muralist Mindi Yarbrough to complete the painting of a new mural along the Wheeling Heritage Trail close to the playground. The mural should be unveiled by the end of the month. (Photo Provided)

Local muralist Mindi Yarbrough has teamed up with art students from Wheeling Park High School to add a new mural to Wheeling Heritage Trail.

“Last year, I was on a run on the trail, and there’re so many beautiful pieces of artwork that give our city so much character,” explained Karin Butyn, Ohio County Schools Director of Public Relations. “I wanted to see our public school system and our state have the opportunity to adorn the walls as well.

“We have such amazing artists in our community and our schools. I started researching on how to bring the concept to life.”

Painting of the mural was done Saturday, with an official unveiling expected later this month.

With a connection through Wheeling Heritage, Butyn met Yarbrough last spring to discuss the concept and connected her with two art teachers at WPHS, Russ Schultz and Stefanie Freeman. Once those connections were made, the rest flowed naturally, according to Butyn.

“They brought so much personality to the mural–creating a concept that highlights and celebrates famous local and greater West Virginia authors, stories, and people, a tribute to Mothman mythology, and even more hidden gems that invite the community to look a little closer! I also want to thank the staff and teachers at Wheeling Park High School for putting in all the work to secure the grants and funding to make this happen and caring about the arts in our community,” Yarbrough said.

Butyn secured grant funding through the West Virginia Arts and Culture Committee, the Wheeling Arts and Culture Commission and Expand Energy to fund the project. Then Yarbrough, Schultz, and Freeman let the students develop their ideas.

Through that experience, a unique concept was born. The draft for the mural touches on the arts and curriculum available in the Ohio County school system while focusing on various state authors and concepts — including fan-favorite Mothman.

The concept for the mural was recently approved by both the Ohio County Board of Education and the city of Wheeling.

“I’m proud to help bring this mural project to life–not just as a vibrant addition to the community, but as a meaningful way to engage young people in the creative process,” Yarbrough said. “As an artist, it’s incredibly rewarding to guide students as they explore their own voices, collaborate, and see how their ideas can transform a space. Public art like this shows them that their creativity and their voices matter–and that it can make a lasting impact.”