Board approves Cooley Park mural by local artist

The Board of Public Works and Safety on Feb. 18 approved a user agreement to place a mural on a large white building at Cooley Park, selecting local artist Brian Banger and citing community input and American Rescue Plan funds for the project.

Board members approved the agreement after a presentation from the applicant, who said the group winnowed more than 200 design options to three finalists and sought community feedback before choosing Banger. "His name is Brian Banger. He is local here in Indiana," the presenter said, and added that he has "done amazing art all over the world" and that the mural’s childlike theme fits the park’s emphasis on younger users.

The presenter said work on storyboards began in June 2025 and that the parks board had already signed off on the artist selection. She said the project is in part an "attempt to assist with the vandalism that we continue to see" at Cooley Park by converting frequently tagged surfaces into an intentional, community-oriented installation. The packet at the dais included color mockups and a community‑feedback component; the presenter also described possible on-site, community-driven elements such as naming characters on the finished wall.

Unidentified Speaker 3 moved to approve the mural placement agreement and Unidentified Speaker 1 seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote. Following the vote, the presenter asked about next steps and staff offered to meet after the meeting to coordinate implementation and logistics.

The agreement uses American Rescue Plan funds as described in the project presentation; the transcript does not include a line-item budget or specify a total project cost.