One of the entrances to a Forest Hills park is getting a makeover.
The artist who originally painted the horse mural on the Forest Park Bridle Path bridge in 2002 will begin restoring his work next month. It's the first sight visitors, horseback riders and dog walkers see when entering the middle of the park off Union Turnpike. Over the past 5 years, park staff say the paint on the bridge has chipped away, sustained water damage and has been vandalized. The work is part of a $17,500 privately funded upgrade to beautify the bridge.
Portia Dyernforth, Administrator for Forest Park says "it's not very welcoming and it is an entrance to one of the most beautiful trails and entrances to the park. So we just wanted to make it, to highlight it."
The Forest Park Trust also commissioned an artist through the Audubon Society to paint a mural on the other side of the bridge. His work depicts birds whose habitats are threatened by climate change.