City of Bloomington Invites Volunteers to Help Paint McDoel Gardens Street Mural

The City of Bloomington invites residents to participate in a community paint day for a new street mural at the intersection of Allen and Fairview Streets in the McDoel Gardens neighborhood. Designed by Bloomington-based artist Rachel Kavathe, the mural celebrates the neighborhood’s identity, history, and values through vibrant floral imagery inspired by community input.

The mural will be painted directly on the asphalt during a Community Paint Day on Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Up to 30 volunteers may sign up to participate in 90-minute shifts throughout the day.

Paint, brushes, and all materials will be provided. The artist will be present to guide the process—no prior experience is needed. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. However, pre-registration is required; walk-up participants will not be permitted.

The event is free and open to the public. Participants must register and sign a waiver ahead of time, as walk-ups will not be permitted on the day of the event. Families, youth groups, and individuals are encouraged to sign up. To register, visit bton.in/J8Com.

In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, June 21.

About Rachel Kavathe

Rachel Kavathe is a mixed-media artist, landscape architect, and urban designer based in Bloomington. Her work explores the relationship between people and place, often through participatory public art that connects communities to natural and cultural landscapes. Drawing from her background in city planning and public design, Kavathe uses a range of materials and methods to bring shared vision to life in built environments.

McDoel Gardens Street and Sidewalk Mural Description + Artist Statement

The McDoel Gardens mural design is inspired by the neighborhood’s welcoming spirit, historic homes, and longstanding tradition of community gardening. The floral elements reflect both the physical and cultural landscape of the area, honoring the care and cultivation residents have shown over generations.

“Showcasing some commonly seen garden flowers in my mural design is intended to communicate to visitors that this neighborhood is loved, cared for, and continues to thrive,” said Kavathe. “Many of the homes were built during the Art Deco movement, and I’ve drawn on that style to reflect the era in which much of the neighborhood was established.”

The mural at the intersection of Allen and Fairview will feature blue flag iris, coreopsis, and coneflower, while sidewalk stencil designs—located at major intersections throughout the neighborhood—will include peony, iris, and clover. Community input gathered in summer 2024 helped determine the final flower selection.