College Park is painting eye-catching art on several storm drains to send an environmental message to help keep the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds clean.
Working with the College Park Committee for a Better Environment, the College Park Arts Exchange has hired local artists to paint environmental images on several storm drains, including one along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, to help people be more mindful about what goes into the drains, which ultimately feed into the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay.
Greenbelt artist Chrissy Wilkin painted otters on one drain to remind residents not to dump hazardous chemicals or trash that will end up in the local watershed. Artist H.K. Beall, meantime, is working on painting a great blue heron.
It’s become a trend along the Route 1 corridor. “Dump no waste, drains to river,” reads an unrelated piece of street art, which shows a fish’s gaping mouth.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is among the environmental groups that have long helped service groups like Scouts and 4H Clubs do storm-drain stenciling, and the state’s Department of Natural Resources offers stencils for a $40 refundable deposit.
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