Artist Sarah Emerson's tunnel mural at Webb Bridge Park is unveiled Friday, Nov. 13. City parks staff also report a rebuilt Cogburn bridge and a splash pad overhaul in the works.

A new mural in the tunnel at Webb Bridge Park gets its ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13. The work is called “All Good Things,” by artist Sarah Emerson.

The date is in the city’s arts and culture report to the Recreation Board, which meets Tuesday. The Nov. 10 Recreation Board packet lists it as an invitation ribbon cutting. It does not say whether the public can attend.

The report names the artist and links to a video of the work but gives no other detail. Webb Bridge Park is at 4780 Webb Bridge Road and is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Our parks and trails guide lists every city park.

What else is new in the parks

The packet carries a monthly report from each park division. Work done or under way includes:

  • Cogburn Road Park: the wooden bridge has been rebuilt with Trex decking and black metal handrails. A black metal fence was added at the playground to keep children from running into the parking lot.
  • Town Green splash pad: the city is taking proposals to renovate it, with new pump and filter equipment and all new spray heads and nozzles.
  • North Park: two electrical buildings are going up at turf fields 1 and 2. The city is splitting the cost 50/50 with Ambush, the report says.
  • Brooke Street Park: new sod on the oval in front of the bandstand.
  • Alpha Loop: more rock is going in to deal with erosion, and trees are being replaced in tree wells along the loop and in City Center.
  • Ballfields: fall programs are winding down, and winter field renovations start next.

Old Rucker Farm and invasive plants

Construction to turn the old farmhouse at Rucker Road Park into a community education center starts in mid-November, the community services report says. It must be finished by March 1, 2027. We covered the $300,000 Lowe’s grant behind the project in October.

The city’s invasive plant removal program picks up again this month, and it is growing:

  • Rucker Road Park moves into a maintenance phase.
  • Mid-Broadwell Park and a small section of Wills Park are added.
  • A new contractor, Shades of Green Permaculture, will work all three sites monthly.

The monthly habitat restoration volunteer sessions at Rucker Road Park continue, with a new leader. Renewals for the city’s five grower programs, including the community garden plots, start this month for 2027.

Student art at City Hall

Art by Manning Oaks Elementary School students is on show in the City Hall Community Gallery. “What’s in the Forest” has 32 works by students from pre-K through fifth grade, about trees, forests and nature. The arts report calls it a first-ever art exhibition and competition, run with the city’s Natural Resources Commission.

Dates from the recreation report

  • Saturday, Nov. 21, 5 to 8 p.m.: Season of Celebration and the tree lighting, downtown. See our tree lighting and parade guide.
  • Friday, Dec. 4, to Monday, Jan. 4: Lights on the Loop, 5:30 to 11 p.m. nightly.
  • Saturday, Dec. 5: first games of the recreational basketball season. Practices have started.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 8, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: the Adult Activity Center’s annual breakfast with Santa and toy drive.

Boo Bash on Oct. 17 drew more than 4,000 people, with 39 sponsors and more than 30 vendors, the recreation services report says.

What it means for you

  • Webb Bridge Park users: the mural is in the park’s tunnel.
  • Families at Cogburn Road Park: the bridge is rebuilt and the playground now has a fence on the parking lot side.
  • Volunteers and gardeners: ask the city’s community agriculture team about the Rucker Road Park habitat sessions and 2027 grower sign-ups.
  • Town Green splash pad: no dates yet. The renovation is still at the proposal stage.

The Recreation Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza. For more on what is coming up, see things to do.