Reservoir Park Mural Project
This mural celebrates nature, recreation and community spirit at Reservoir Park. It is my hope that people will see this painting, pause for a moment, and be reminded of the joy, beauty and sanctuary we find outside in parks and nature.
You can visit the mural, it is outside, free and open to the public! You can find it on the reverse side of the handball court wall in Reservoir Park, facing the 800 block of East Orange Street in Lancaster, PA.
The 16 x 20 foot image was designed and painted by me, Heidi Leitzke, with help from two fantastic Millersville University BFA Students, Tina Borchert and Heidi Nauss. Painting began on Monday, June 28 and was completed on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. I spent about 80 hours painting the mural, with about 30 hours of help from each assistant.
Reservoir Park Mural in the news…
Mural Design - Final Draft
June 26, 2021 - This is a composite image of the final mural draft design, placed on the Reservoir Park Handball Court Wall, using photoshop. The exact painting is subject to change, as we transition the image to the large size of the wall.
This event was a live Zoom presentation on Wednesday June 23, 2021. It was free and open to the public. Heidi shared images, spoke about her artwork, influences and goals for the mural project.
‘Draw & Talk’ at Reservoir Park
Join artist Heidi Leitzke at Reservoir Park, near the Handball Court Wall to draw, talk about art, parks, murals, what kind of plants and flowers you like, and how it feels to be outside. Feel free to stop by for a few minutes to say hi, or stay longer to make a drawing!
Friday June 18, 3:30 - 5:50 p.m.
Tuesday June 22, 10 a.m. - noon
Tuesday June 22, 3 - 5 p.m.
About the Mural Site
Reservoir Park is located on the east side of the City of Lancaster, PA.
It is a well-used, and slightly run-down park. At the center of the park is a handball court with a 16 x 20 foot cement block wall, facing neighbors and park visitors like a blank canvas, just waiting to be painted. Perhaps because of this inviting state, it has been the site of graffiti, which has repeatedly been painted over. Murals have been proven to be an effective way to not only beautify neighborhoods, but also improve the sense of place, becoming landmarks and amplifying neighborhood identity.
Mural Design
Over the past year, as we have responded to the changes in our world, due to COVID 19, I and many residents of Lancaster City have found solace and renewal outside, in nature. This mural will celebrate nature, recreation and community spirit at Reservoir Park. It is my hope that people will see this mural painting, pause for a moment, and be reminded of the sanctuary we find in nature.
The mural will be painted in my style, which often relies on the combination of flat shapes, meandering lines and vibrant colors to create dynamic, often lively, landscapes. In my paintings, I am not trying to capture an exact likeness of any one place, but rather reflect the spirit of aliveness found and experienced when surrounded by living, growing things like trees, flowers, grasses and wildlife.
A special THANK YOU to my mural painting assistants, Tina Borchert & Heidi Nauss.
The Reservoir Park Mural Project is supported by the City of Lancaster’s Love Your Block program.
This project is made possible with support from a Community Engagement Grant from the Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change at Millersville University and a Millersville University Faculty Research Grant.