A few months ago, that space was vandalized.

Students, with help from Lowe’s Hometowns program, have again beautified the wall along the underside of the bridge that carries Third Avenue over Conewango Creek with ‘Nostalgic Sunset.’

“Julie Labesky from Lowe’s saw that people had vandalized what we’d worked on,” Beaty Assistant Principal Shelly Wagner said. “She asked if it would be OK if Lowe’s donated paint and brought people to help paint our bridge.”

Of course, that was fine with school officials.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School student Edward Anderson paints a portion of the new mural on the wall under the Third Avenue Bridge.

Students last school year had decorated the space with thousands of painted handprints – a personal mark on the bridge.

Then, someone vandalized the location that is used often by students coming to and going from school, or going to the field or playground.

Spurred on by Lowe’s, the school started taking some steps.

“Art Teacher Ashlee Sprandle drew the design,” Wagner said. “She created a chalk drawing, came back and painted the outlines, then she washed the bridge so it would be ready to paint.”

“We were able to get the kids together and start painting this to have a beautiful mural,” she said.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School students (from left) Alexa Buchanan, Madelyn Smart, and Heavenlee Pape paint a portion of the new mural on the wall under the Third Avenue Bridge.

Five Lowe’s employees joined dozens of students – 50 to 60 in an initial group, then another class of about 30 – and their teachers in the effort.

“It’s so great seeing everybody work together,” Wagner said. “The kids are loving this.”

The scene features the sun shining on water with mountains and rainbows to either side.

Toward the end of the painting, Wagner said out loud that the project needed a name.

A nearby student needed only a moment to come up with ‘Nostalgic Sunset.’

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School student Kiera Garris paints a portion of the new mural on the wall under the Third Avenue Bridge.