Photo by Joselyn King The ribbon was cut to unveil a new mural at Heritage Port, created and crafted by art students at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured from left are L. Miller, Adonis Riggs, Chloe Brammer, Jay White and Ian Reckline.

WHEELING – Wheeling’s Heritage Port now displays a colorful new mural imagined and crafted by Wheeling Park High School art students.

The mural, located at the playground at Heritage Port, also showcases subtle references to West Virginia’s history and culture for those who look closely. Participating students and school officials gathered Wednesday at the playground for the official unveiling of the mural.

Karin Butyn, public relations director for Ohio County Schools, said it was about a year ago she was walking the Heritage Port path and thought a long mural would be wonderful on the wall near the playground.

She was successful in writing a grant to start the project.

“I wanted us on the wall at the waterfront,” Butyn said of Ohio County Schools. “You see these beautiful murals everytime you walk past, and they are a symbol of our community. To me, there is no better investment in our community than these kids right here.

“They live it, they breathe it, and now it is here forever.”

She expressed pride in the finished work by the students.

“When you walk on that part of the trail, it is like walking into a vibrant city,” Butyn said. “It is special to see all these pieces come to life, and knowing that our students played a role in that is really unique.

“Seeing the final project – it is astounding. And it was student-led, and student-driven. It is cool that Ohio County Schools is now part of that landscape.”

The students received direction from local artist Mindi Yarbrough and WPHS art teachers Stefani Freeman and Russ Schultz.

But Schultz said in the end it really was the students’ work. He credited Ian Reckline with the overall design, and students wanted to incorporate within it references to local history and iconic people and places.

Those staring at the details of the mural will see shelves full of books with titles noting West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman, basketball icon Jerry West, the state bird the cardinal and football great Randy Moss.

One even bears the title “Berry’s Supply,” a reference to Reckline’s own family history.

“They really did put a lot of effort into this,” Schultz said. “I have much praise for this, and I give it all to them – especially Ian.”

Freeman said when the students began painting the mural last week, it was freezing and they wore gloves and coats. The next day was very warm and the sweat dripped from them.

“You even got on the scaffolding when many of you were afraid,” she continued. “I’m proud of you.”

Yarbrough indicated she also was proud.

“This is all their vision. We’re proud to see how they connected not only local things, but statewide things into the mural,” she said.