Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
NATICK, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new mural art project in Natick is educating residents about how to manage stormwater runoff.
At the busy intersection of Routes 135 (Central Street) and Route 27 (Main Street), there are murals painted on each corner of the intersection depicting the process of stormwater runoff.
Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
“Art is telling us that story and is telling us that it goes into Dug Pond which is the local swimming beach area that we have here in Natick, and [that] it also goes into Lake Cochituate which is another waterbody we have,” said Jillian Wilson Martin, Director of Sustainability for the town of Natick.
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Wilson Martin explained to WBZ NewsRadio that each mural offers a different message and purpose to educate people who stop to view the artwork.
“[The first mural] is just introducing you to the concept of stormwater, and then this piece is talking about the things that can end up in it.”
Some of these items include leaves, twigs, trash, motor oil, and fertilizer.
Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
The artwork was created by Natick native (but now Chicago based) environmental engineer and artist Rebecca McCue, whose work tells us how we can make stormwater cleaner from trash, fertilizer and motor oil runoff.
Wilson Martin also told WBZ NewsRadio that McCue temporarily relocated to Natick to complete the project.
“[McCue] would work remotely during the day, and then at night and in the early mornings and on the weekends, she would come and paint,” Wilson Martin said.
Wilson Martin also told us that this project was supported through the behind-the-scenes work of Claire Rundelli, Planner and Conservation Agent for the town of Natick.
“[Rundelli] was really the lead in organizing this [project] and securing the funding for it,” Wilson Martin added.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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