Penn Soil RC&D Partners to Improve Aesthetics of Downtown Oil City with New Murals

Penn Soil Resource Conservation & Development Council recently completed a final report for a $66,000 grant awarded to Penn Soil RC&D by PNC Charitable Trusts in Oil City. The grant funds were used for two separate projects which included renovations of the historic Downs Building which will ultimately serve as a Trail Town business location along the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail as well as a major portion of the cost of beautifying the downtown area by creating and improving five murals in the downtown area. The combined projects totaled $103,308 and were celebrated with a Mural Walk on October 27, 2018.

The five mural projects together totaled $47,915.44 and were funded by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the National Park Service via the Oil Region Alliance (ORA) as the Oil Region National Heritage Area, and the Elizabeth S. Black Charitable Trust via PNC Charitable Trusts and Penn Soil RC&D Council. The murals carry various themes that include elements of oil history & heritage, transportation, wildlife, and music. For more pictures of the murals and the mural walk click this link.

The Primary Project Partners were The Oil City Mainstreet Program, The Oil Region Alliance, PA DCNR, The Oil Region National Heritage Area, The Elizabeth S. Black Charitable Trust, PNC Charitable Trusts, and Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council.