Alpharetta commission approves 14 student-painted manhole murals along Big Creek Greenway

The Alpharetta commission unanimously approved a proposal to paint 14 raised-concrete manhole murals along the Big Creek/Alpharetta Greenway, the commission heard at its meeting.

Rotary of North Fulton representative Thomas Nolfa told commissioners the year-three phase of the project attracted 38 applications from area high schools and yielded 14 selected student artists. Nolfa said Rotary will coordinate power-washing, priming and a two-day painting schedule and will provide on-site logistics and volunteer supervision for student safety. "We committed to maintaining these. They are active sewers," Nolfa said, describing a maintenance plan the group will follow after installation.

City staff told the commission the manhole assets are owned by Fulton County's Department of Public Works and that Fulton County supplied materials and repaired patches on the identified manholes after Rotary raised the issue. Director Morgan Rogers clarified the city's public-art ordinance applies only to city-owned property: "that it only applies to the city property," she said, noting county-owned infrastructure is handled differently.

Commissioners asked about timing and scale. Nolfa said Rotary hopes to install the murals in October, timed around Fulton County's fall break, and that the Rotary had planned to install 8–10 murals per year but expanded to 14 this round because of strong submissions. Commissioners also asked about long-term durability; presenters said selected paints and a maintenance schedule should limit the need for repainting for several years.

A motion to approve the Alpharetta Greenway manhole murals was moved and seconded and the commission voted to approve the project unanimously.

The commission did not set a specific installation date in the meeting; presenters said they would proceed with power-washing and priming and coordinate further logistics with Fulton County and city staff.