Latest storm drain mural connects streets to the river
High school youth in our Environmental Stewardship Institute Council collaborated with artist Jesús Ramírez on this year's storm drain mural at Harriet Island. (Photo by Alexandra Jabbarpour)
Next time you visit FMR or Harriet Island, be sure to check out our latest water quality mural, designed to bring awareness to Mississippi River pollution.
Our eighth mural, designed and painted by artist Jesús Ramírez, highlights the connection between storm drains and the river.
Each year, FMR collaborates with community partners to design and install a water quality-themed mural near a storm drain at a park in St. Paul. As part of our Water Quality Education program — which also includes storm drain stenciling, cleanups and educational outings — these murals serve as reminders that our city landscape connects to the river through storm drains and that we can all work together to keep our water clean.
Artist partners with FMR youth
For this year’s mural, FMR partnered with Jesús Ramírez, an artist, community organizer and longtime resident of St. Paul’s West Side. They collaborated with our Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI) youth council to design and paint the mural.
Jesús gathered input on the mural design from the ESI Council, asking council members what they thought was important to showcase about water quality. The students really enjoyed the opportunity to work as a team and have their ideas reflected in the final product. The council wanted to include recreation and trash in the mural to show that pollution from the street ends up visible in the river. The finished mural includes a waterfall and swirls of water, as well as floating trash, contrasting the beauty of water with the reality of our river.
Slideshow: Mural in progress
See the finished mural in person
This mural is at Harriet Island, right across the street from the FMR office. You can find it in the northern parking lot closest to Harriet Island Target Stage.
The finished mural at Harriet Island reads: "All storm drains lead to our river" — a phrase that ESI council members came up with and painted.
Find our other water quality murals in St. Paul
We have seven other storm drain murals designed in community with local artists:
- 2023: At scenic overlook along the Mississippi River Gorge by Precious
- 2022: At Lake Phalen by Graci Horne
- 2021: At Swede Hollow Park by Thomasina Topbear and Tom Jay
- 2020: At Harriet Island by Liv Novotny and Violeta Rotstein
- 2019: At Lake Phalen by Liv Novotny and Violeta Rotstein
- 2018: At Como Park by Gustavo Lira
- 2017: At Como Park by Gustavo Lira
Want to protect our waters?
You can help keep our rivers and lakes clean! Check out our storm drain stenciling program or our volunteer page to dig in restoring native habitat.
Thank you to the City of St. Paul Public Works Department for supporting the Water Quality Education program.