A new mural at Rodney Park is bringing the ideas, experiences and creativity of the West Lancaster community to life.
On Saturday, Aug. 1, neighbors, students, families and community partners will gather at Rodney Park for the mural’s official unveiling. The event will take place from 2-3 p.m. and will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the project, see the original artwork that inspired it and celebrate the many people who helped make it possible.
Led by Lancaster artist and West Lancaster resident Shauna Yorty, the mural began with a simple question posed to Lafayette Elementary students and neighborhood residents.
What makes you feel alive?
The answers came in many forms. Students and community members shared feelings of joy, calm and freedom, along with the people, places and activities that help create those emotions.
Their ideas became flowers, insects, bicycles, sports, nature and scenes of families spending time together. More than 390 drawings were submitted throughout the design process, each offering a different perspective on what it means to feel fully alive.
Yorty worked with Lafayette Elementary art teacher Mr. Blymyer and members of the community to turn those ideas into one mural that reflects the neighborhood. Some images appear closely to how students originally drew them, while other parts of the design were inspired by the themes that appeared across many submissions.
One scene shows a father and daughter playing football, inspired by students who shared that playing sports with their families makes them feel alive. Another features a bicycle moving forward with lightning trailing behind it, reflecting the excitement students described when riding fast.
Nature, movement and community appear throughout the mural, helping tell the story of the West Lancaster Jewels neighborhood through the people who call it home.
The community also played an important role in painting the mural. Nearly 70 people participated in a community paint day, with volunteers ranging in age from 5 months old to 71 years old. Students, families, neighbors and visitors worked side by side to add color to the wall and take part in creating something that will remain in the neighborhood for years to come.
During the Aug. 1 unveiling, Rodney Park will also become an outdoor art gallery. Original drawings submitted by Lafayette students and community members will be displayed along the park’s fences, allowing visitors to see how individual ideas were transformed into the finished mural.
The project was made possible through a partnership among the West Lancaster Jewels neighborhood group, Lancaster Recreation Commission, the City of Lancaster’s Neighborhood Art Project, Lafayette Elementary and community volunteers.
The mural reflects the School District of Lancaster’s commitment to creating opportunities for students to express themselves, connect with their community and develop a sense of belonging. It also supports the district’s focus on strengthening partnerships among schools, families and community organizations.
When the mural is officially unveiled, the community will not only see a finished piece of artwork. Visitors will see hundreds of ideas brought together on one wall and a reminder that every voice can help shape the places we share.
Unveiling information:
- Saturday, August 1, 2026
- 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
- Rodney Park
- 200 Crystal St, Lancaster PA 17602