The Clinch Park pedestrian tunnel under Grandview Parkway in Traverse City will be closed today (Tuesday) for painting.

Crews are expected to close the tunnel at 8am and reopen by 6pm. While pedestrian traffic will resume after 6pm, the walls of the tunnel will still have fresh paint. Signage will be on display to warn tunnel traffic about the paint job.

The tunnel is receiving a new coat of paint in preparation for the Traverse City Arts Commission’s mural project anticipated to be installed later this month. Artist Bobby MaGee Lopez of Colorado was selected to work with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to create over 600 square feet of new mural art for the tunnel, which will be installed on a panelized system attached to both tunnel walls. The Clinch Park tunnel previously hosted Anishinaabek art and language on its walls created by artist Lois Beardslee. The artwork degraded over time and was painted over in 2013 when Clinch Park was reconstructed. Lopez says he hopes to pay homage to Beardslee with his murals, as well as weave in themes and imagery including plants and animals, tribal symbolism, body markings and tattoos, and traditional and contemporary attire.