Stroke by stroke, a mural is coming to life. Tucked away under the Route 219 overpass in Cambria Township, anyone who walks along the Ghost Town Trail will see it.

“This is my route,” said Anne Creany, an Ebensburg resident.

A route that leads Creany right past the new mural.

“It really adds to the natural beauty, the artistic beauty. It’s really nice to add to all the scenery we have,” Creany said.

The Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority (CCCRA) commissioned an artist from Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center to paint the mural as a way to beautify the trail.

“I think having art out in nature is a good thing. You can appreciate not only the life around you, but you can appreciate the time it took to highlight the trail that you’re walking on,” said Leanna Bird, the Programs and Communications coordinator for CCCRA.

The mural is designed to show scenes in nature hikers would find along the Ghost Town Trail, like milkweed and the Pennsylvania state flower, Mountain Laurel.

Others will get to see the work in progress on Saturday, June 17th during the 2nd Annual Ghost Town Trail Challenge.

The event raises money for trail improvement projects, including the Ghost Town Trail extension and art projects, like the mural.

“We hope that this mural will bring people who only walk so far. Hopefully this will draw more people further out to check out more of the trail,” said Bird.

Eventually, the CCCRA hopes to paint the other three pillars of the overpass. Creany said, until then, she’ll keep an eye out for the finished mural on her next walk.

“Well, it’s not done yet but I can see the design. I’m anxious to see it when it’s finished. I like all the components that are there.  The man-made part. The natural part. I think it’s really going to be an asset.” Creany said.