#parkplazamural

[markjoeckel]

#parkplazamural #parkplazamuralproject #aggtown #eastsideproud #eastsideproudarltx (at Park Plaza Mural) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-c8Qu8lDyi/?igshid=18gcd6hgtl887

[markjoeckel]

#ArlTx #ppmp #parkplazamural 1 of 16 murals on the #arltxeastside 24 hours a day. @dfwfreefun @streetartnews @muralsdaily (at Create Arlington,Texas)

[markjoeckel]

One of 16 murals at the #parkplazamural #ppmp the #arltxeastside by Aaron Bickel @aim.here @streetart_official @dfwandbeyond @texasmusicoffice @arlingtontexastoday @muralarts @muralfestival (at Create Arlington,Texas)

[markjoeckel]

New #PeaceShield mural at #PPMP #parkplazamural #parkplazamuralproject. By Michael Smiley. (at Park Plaza Mural)

[markjoeckel]

#peaceshield at the #parkplazamural #ppmp #parkplazamuralproject #murals @arlingtonparks @cityofarlington @dfwandbeyond @dfwjournalist @dallasartsdistrict @muralarts @muralfestival @arlington_ink @beamteamdesign @big_red_ants @arlingtoncharities @bgshanebuechele @pokeyostarrantco @fortworthweekly @dallasobserver @arlingtontxlib @jeromyabailey @dallaslovelist @artbymikegarcia @breannearts @thedemariodavis @thelawleyartgroup @michael_guinn @adonisrose @daniel_katsuk (at Create Arlington,Texas)

[markjoeckel]

New #PeaceShield mural at #PPMP #parkplazamural #parkplazamuralproject (at Park Plaza Mural)

[arlingtonproud]

How A Handful Of Artists & Residents Initiated Community Change In Arlington, Texas?

By Mark Joeckel - Executive Director - Arlington, Texas - Proud To Call It Home

In February of 2014, the above image, of the wall at Park Plaza Shopping Center, was posted on Arlington Proud’s Facebook page.  The question with the post was: “Any artists in town interested in painting  this wall?”  Within a couple of weeks, 18 local artists, gathered at Plaza Pub,  to discuss how to replace this ugly wall with a mural. The challenge, over 380′ needed to be repainted. However, the group decided it would be doable. 

With support from Arlington residents and local business contributions, the mural began at Park Plaza Shopping Center in May of 2014.  

What has happened in the area since the mural began?  Check out the Images of the walls at Park Plaza Before the Mural Project.

Since May of 2014, over 20 murals, covering about 400’ of 24’ high walls have been created by local artists and events started taking place in the parking lot by the new murals. New additions to the mural, by a variety of local artists, appear regularly on the Park Plaza walls. 

Before local artists began work at the Park Plaza Center, the shopping center: 1. The walls facing the Plaza Heights neighborhood had gone unpainted for 15-20 years. 

2. Large potholes littered Kimberly Dr,  the main street cutting through the Park Plaza Center. 

3. A decade ago closed, neighborhood swimming pool, was overgrown with 2-3 ft of weeds and stagnate water lingered in the pool. 

4. Over 50% of the lights, in the vast parking lots of the Park Plaza Shopping Center, were extinguished. 

5. Six acres of condemned apartments, next door to Park Plaza, were drug infested and fenced in for over a year, (LaJoya Apts). 

6. An additional 600’ section of the shopping center wall, facing Plaza Heights neighborhood, was in equally bad shape as the walls getting the new murals. 

What has happened in the neighborhood since  the Park Plaza Mural Project began in May, 2015? 

* The 10 year old pot holes on Kimberly Dr have been filled and patched.

* The old neighborhood pool park was purchased by an Arlington resident. The dangerous pool has been removed and the property is being turned into a park and rental facility. 

* 64 burnt out parking lot lights have been replaced. 

* The remaining 600 feet of ugly walls, facing the neighborhood, were painted by the owners. 

* The LaJoya Apartments, finally, are being demolished, to make way for new development. 

* A new, locally owned restaurant has opened in Park Plaza, to go along with the 4 other busy restaurants  in the center.

* The Park Plaza Murals are a photo destination for hundreds across the metroplex for senior pictures, family portraits, dance team pics, car club photos. Urban explorers love to photograph the multitude of graffiti images. 

Community development creates a spark for a larger plan, in this case a mural, that grows as others in the neighborhood become involved. 

Community development is organizing people to come together to work towards a preferred future and influence others. 

Community development is resident led. 

Community development involves folks,  within and outside, of the community, to stepping up to get involved in a plan created by the residents.

The work that is going on the Park Plaza Community is a result of many days of painting, talking to neighbors, planning over a cold beer at Plaza Pub, meeting with community and city leaders and telling investors and developers about the great opportunities on the Eastside.   

Thanks to the supporters our emerging organization, Arlington Proud. Over the last year and a half, we have involved dozens of artist and volunteers to keep work going on the mural.  

But, know this, what you have supported is much more than public art. You are supporting a movement in our community and economic development that is truly sustainable and raising the value of our neighborhoods.  

Your support also  helps keep the good word flowing on Park Plaza and residents, investors and city/community leaders will stay focused on this corner of Arlington, Texas. (BTW- This area is about 40 acres)

Thanks again to all of the artists and other volunteers that continue to steward the mural at the Park Plaza Shopping Center.

By Mark Joeckel