Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful and River Gallery Studio to Celebrate Completion of First Veterans Mural Pillar

Daily Dose  |  05/12/2026 3:30 pm

Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful and River Gallery Studio will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate the completion of the first pillar of the Veterans Mural project, a bold public art initiative taking shape on the pillars of the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway Bridge in Toledo.

The event will bring together elected officials, representatives from the veterans community, community partners, Keep America Beautiful, and other supporters to recognize this important milestone and the collaborative effort behind it.

The Veterans Mural project is part of the 100 Works of Art initiative, the partnership between Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful and River Gallery Studio to bring large-scale public art to neighborhoods and public spaces across Toledo and Lucas County. The long-term vision for the Veterans Mural project is to transform at least 13 bridge pillars into public art honoring U.S. military service, creating what is expected to become the world’s largest Veterans Mural project.

“Beautification is about more than improving how a place looks, it is about creating places that reflect our values, our stories, and the people who shaped this community,” said Adam Cassi, Executive Director of Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful. “This project honors veterans in a powerful and visible way while also transforming public infrastructure into something inspiring, memorable, and uniquely Toledo.”

Led by artist Dean Davis of River Gallery Studio, the project combines public art, local history, and civic pride on a monumental scale. Rising approximately 40 to 85 feet tall, the pillars create a canvas unlike anything else in the region and stand in one of the most visible corridors in Northwest Ohio. 

“This project is about honoring those who served while creating something lasting for the entire community,” said Dean Davis. “These murals will tell stories of courage, sacrifice, and identity in a way that is bold, public, and impossible to ignore. We want this space to become a source of pride for veterans, families, and all of Toledo.”

In addition to honoring veterans, the project is expected to strengthen neighborhood identity, support beautification, and contribute to tourism and broader community development by creating a destination-scale work of public art. The first completed pillar marks the beginning of a larger vision that will continue to grow through partnerships, public support, and community engagement.

The project has received support from a broad coalition of partners, including ODOT, Keep Ohio Beautiful, The Sherwin-Williams Company, the City of Toledo, Lucas County Government, the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission, VFW partners, and the Greater Toledo Community Foundation.

Media are invited to attend the ribbon cutting and hear more about the long-term vision for the Veterans Mural project and the 100 Works of Art initiative.  Parking will be at the Glass City Marina and golf cart transportation to the pillar will be available courtesy of Metroparks Toledo. 

Event Details

What: Ribbon Cutting for the First Completed Veterans Mural Pillar

When: Wednesday, May 20, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Veterans’ Glass City Skyway Bridge mural site - parking at the Glass City Marina (1701 Front St, Toledo, OH 43605)

Who: Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, River Gallery Studio, elected officials, veterans community representatives, Keep America Beautiful, ODOT, community partners, and supporters

About Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful
Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful (KT/LCB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing waste, eliminating litter, improving recycling, and fostering environmental stewardship across Northwest Ohio. Through education, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships, KT/LCB empowers residents to take pride in their neighborhoods and create cleaner, greener, and more vibrant public spaces. Source

About River Gallery Studio
River Gallery Studio was created by artist Dean Davis to celebrate Toledo’s culture, workforce, and creative identity through public art. In partnership with Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, the studio is helping bring the vision of 100 Works of Art to life through murals and installations that inspire connection, pride, and a renewed sense of place across the region.