Kalamazoo County leaders are preparing to vote on approving a large mural design that will transform the northside neighborhood with public art celebrating local history and community figures.
The mural will be displayed on 40 large panels surrounding a new parking garage that's being built on Church Street in the northside neighborhood. The parking garage will sit next to the new Kalamazoo County Administration Building.
The project represents the latest chapter in a development saga that began when Kalamazoo County bought the McDonald's property on Kalamazoo Avenue in late 2025 for $9 million. County officials tore down the building earlier in 2026 to make way for the new structure.
The design incorporates faces of well-known community leaders while capturing Kalamazoo's history. You'll also notice nature elements weaved in with things such as the cardinal flower and monarch butterfly.
Patrick Hershberger, the mural's artist, said he wanted to show off what he calls a flourishing community.
I want the focus to be on people that are doing things now and that also can give us inspiration to what we can do in our local community, Hershberger said. The design uses all local faces, people that are really involved in our communities. The design is facing the north side, and so there is a lot of north side representation, as well as inclusivity for a larger part of members of the county.
Kalamazoo County Commissioners will take a vote on the mural during Tuesday's meeting at 7 p.m.
The mural project highlights the County's commitment to beautifying the downtown area and honoring local community members through public art. The northside neighborhood has seen significant changes in recent years, and this project aims to continue that transformation with meaningful community representation.
The new Kalamazoo County Administration Building and its associated parking garage are part of a larger redevelopment effort in the downtown area. The project represents a significant investment in public infrastructure while also prioritizing community engagement through artistic expression.