In a city of forty thousand there’s a lot to provide. Construction, education, and practically anything else you can think of. The burden of providing these services and amenities falls on local governments and townships. That burden is often increased by the added stress of trying to provide everything, with an ever decreasing budget. Because of this strain, many middle class cities across america have to decide what’s important, and what’s not. Do you fix those endless amounts of potholes on your main road, or do you purchase another police cruiser (a simple example). Decisions like these are difficult to make, and when alternative forms of finances can’t be met, we’re left with one or the other. Most of the time, it’s what’s needed. When you’re dealing with problems like the aforementioned, little else matters.

When you’re deciding on public projects to fund, art often comes in last place. The most common form of publicly funded art, murals, might not be the kind of projects local governments immediately find value in. They’re often a high expenditure and low tangible return. Even more, many public officials find it hard to sell their constituents on murals, and so they often deny them. But what local governments don’t see, are the outstanding advantages of funding public murals in their town or city. They can be used to explain history, bring people together, and improve the visual identity of city centers. In Reynoldsburg, murals now populate two very common, and widely traveled roads. One, on the opposite side of Vick’s Pizza painted on the exterior of Cotner Funeral home. The other, on the front of Reynoldsburg High School’s Livingston Campus. But how did these projects come to be? This is an especially important question when you consider how cramped the Reynoldsburg City budget already is.

To start, let’s examine the mural outside of Cotner Funeral Home. The mural, painted by artist Curtis Goldstein, is an examination of the rich history of Reynoldsburg. It provides a visualization of everything that makes Reynoldsburg unique when compared to other central Ohio cities; Military service, the underground railroad, and the Livingston house. Key people, places, and ideas are encapsulated in an expertly preserved and maintained area. The mural is valued even more based on its location; right at the heart of olde Reynoldsburg. It’s no mistake that a piece as important as this is located in what began as a small merchant town, and quickly grew (and is still growing) to be one of the biggest suburbs of Ohio. But the origins of the mural have very little to do with the City of Reynoldsburg as it does with the owner of Cotner Funeral Home and current City Councilman; Barth Cotner.

A section of the Cotner Funeral Home mural celebrating citizens of Reynoldsburg who have volunteered for military service.

His mission to create a mural for the City of Reynoldsburg began as an idea originating with his mother Betty Cotner. As he grew Cotner Funeral Home and became even more active in the community, he realized the value and potential of a public mural placed in the center of Olde Reynoldsburg. So, in 2009, he did just that. With the help of the Reynoldsburg Chamber of Commerce, Barth led the way to fund Goldstein’s mural. Today the mural is a beacon of historical preservation that adds nuance to Olde Reynoldsburg, which is slowly becoming a modern “walkable” downtown area. The private funding and placement of the mural is a reflection of The Cotner family’s generosity, and it kept Reynoldsburg from having to spend resources on a project that wasn’t top priority. Though the mural was funded privately and is considered property of Cotner Funeral Home, it is open to public viewing and is treated like a public space. It is even utilized to further Reynoldsburg education for nearby elementary schools, which require students to learn Reynoldsburg history. The mural and its benefits might be a direct effect of Cotner Funeral Home, but it’s benefits are felt by every member of the Reynoldsburg community.

In a much more recent development, another mural has taken a similar approach to funding, albeit with a different goal in mind. Reynoldsburg high school’s Livingston campus is home to hundred of local students. It’s location and architecture act as a centerpiece of the surrounding area. With communities in every direction, Blacklick park to its side, and one of the most commonly traveled intersections in Reynoldsburg; the high school is within the sights of residents every day. So it comes to no surprise that a mural would be perfect in the front of the school, but how would Reynoldsburg even start that process with the resources at hand? The Franklin County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board (ADAMH) spurred on conversations and began such a process.

ADAMH’s involvement is apart of an initiative to increase conversation in local communities around local health. ADAMH has sponsored murals not only in Reynoldsburg, but also in cities around central Ohio. Their hope is that local communities can reap the benefits of public murals, without having the burden of cost play a deciding factor. That mission brought ADAMH to Reynoldsburg, and specifically to Reynoldsburg High School. By collaborating with the city in community paint days, artist Eliza Ho managed to finish the mural in time for it’s unveiling on October 9th. The mural is a depiction of children laughing and playing, with the quote “Live in the Moment” serving as its centerpiece. The mural also uses tomatoes to create patterns around the scene. It’s a much more general statement than Cotner Funeral Home’s historical depiction of Reynoldsburg, as its purpose is much different. That diversity in message is something that provides even more value to both of these public pieces.

Reynoldsburg City Schools Superintendent Melvin Brown speaking at the ADAMH mural unveiling.

These two murals are highlights of Reynoldsburg. They improve the sense of community and rich family values Reynoldsburg is all about. As young generations look to make suburban neighborhoods like Reynoldsburg their home, they are attracted by these wholesome ideals. Though all of this is true, and Reynoldsburg is reaping the benefits of their public art, it’s important to highlight how the murals were originally funded. Without Cotner Funeral Home and the Chamber of Commerce’s generosity, the visual history of Reynoldsburg would be restricted to books and online articles. Without the generosity of ADAMH and their mural initiative, Reynoldsburg High School wouldn’t be home to a mural promoting public health (an important conversation in modern society).

In the case of public murals, cities often have little to no bandwidth to provide adequate funding or time commitments. So instead of relying on tax dollars, Reynoldsburg has adopted murals from alternative sources and used them to benefit the city. This means that the city can continue to fund foundational elements like infrastructure, without totally losing out on the benefits of an amenity like public art. This is just one of the many ways Reynoldsburg is positioning itself to be one of the best places to live in central Ohio. All this, while actively promoting the values that have come to define it; family and community.