When the students, staff, and community of Willard Elementary School come together to create a vibrant mural, they don’t just paint a wall — they spread beauty and a lot of pride into their neighborhood.

The tradition of painting a neighborhood mural began in 2016, when the Willard 5th grade student-artists painted a 10′ x 60′ mural on the nearby wall of Fairgrounds Hardware.

Fast forward to 2024, and the tradition continues thanks to the support of the DMPS Foundation, which provided the necessary funds to keep this creative spirit alive.

Under the guidance of art teacher Lindsay Hallman, this year’s fifth-grade class designed and painted a brand-new mural that now brightens the corner of Dean Avenue and East 30th Street, right across from Willard Elementary.

Featuring the inspiring message “Great Things Take Time,” the mural was designed by students Sophia Rios Rivas, Erika Sapkota, and Abbie Milligan.

Now, both works of public art stand proudly along East 30th Street near the Iowa State Fairgrounds, where they’ll be seen and appreciated by millions of fairgoers and passersby alike.