Painting Freedom

Mer Young is grinding on the west side of the train bridge along Whirlpool Street.

The Long Beach, Calif. native has created murals across the United States. I saw her working last week and stopped to chat. Kayleigh Day was helping.

The murals by the Underground Railroad Heritage Museum and train station are the only thing Niagara Falls has to show for the $10 million downtown revitalization initiative funded in 2021 by the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Young's freedom mural is across the street from the Riley Brothers' "Take a Smile, Leave a Smile."

Aside from the projects on buildings owned at the time of the grant by Blue Cardinal Development, other incomplete projects include the First Congregation Church of Christ, in partnership with Niagara University, streetscapes along Main Street and an expansion of DiCamillo’s Bakery.

The Freedom mural is one of 3 being painted along Main Street this fall.