PHOTO BY GREG CZNADEL

Impett Park, 3207 W. 153^rd in the West Park neighborhood: This fawn, laying under a tree, is one of the creatures of the forest depicted in a mural by resident artist Bernadette Glorioso.

by Gregory Cznadel

     (Plain Press January 2025) Impett Park, located at 3207 W. 153^rd in the West Park neighborhood, opened this November.  Although the opening was centered on the much-needed playground, there was another item that, after long hours of work this past summer, was completed in time for this celebration.

     It was a mural against the outside wall of the swimming pool’s wall facing the play area.

     Bernadette Glorioso, resident artist, spent her days in the park; on her knees painting creatures of the forest; on her ladder painting pin and burr oaks; and on a 9-foot scaffolding painting the northern lights on the overhang.

     Anyone who walked by the wall was invited to partake in the fun. From little kids who painted flowers on the edge of the forest to seniors who helped with everything from rolling paint for the sky to painting butterflies on a dog’s ear and bird nest in a tree.

     On the bottom of the mural is a “Can you spot it” game. It lists items in the forest kids can try to find: Falling pin oak leaves, a solar eclipse, skunk, 4 leaf clover, airplane. Each item has some connection with Cleveland. The roller coaster is in remembrance of the Puritas Park amusement park; the Oaks, our native trees; the horses, the nearby stables; the Monarchs for their byway; and the plane, the Cleveland Airport. The lettering was done by a friend.

     Two volunteer artists from the Old Brooklyn Senior Citizens Resource Center where Bernadette teaches art classes, helped. Dolores Hules spent an afternoon painting these cute little butterflies on the head of a dog. Gregory Cznadel, tree steward, helped paint bark on the trees.

     During the opening Bernadette was asked to speak. This woman praised all the kids, all the residents, all her friends who stopped by to help. A short speech was given hesitantly, with no recognition to herself, the time she put in doing research, cleaning brushes each day, crawling up and down scaffolding, being a Friend to Impett Park.

   Thank you, Bernadette.

     One picture is worth a thousand words. Walking through this “forest” is worth a million.