A set of vibrant new murals adorns the sidewalks at the intersection of E Street and 67 th Street in Springfield.
The four murals are the latest installment in the city’s UpStream Art project, which has funded the installation of 46 murals across Springfield since 2016.
Situated near stormwater drains, the murals aim to educate community members about stormwater pollution and the flow of stormwater directly back into local waterways — in this case, the McKenzie River.
“This is designed to encourage people to do their part to reduce the amount of pollution that’s making its way into our waterways,” said Peter Jaeger, an environmental services technician with the city.
Springfield’s stormwater system was built to prevent flooding and does not filter water before it flows to the river, Jaeger said. He encouraged residents to keep paint, oil, litter and other debris and chemicals off of paved areas and away from storm drains to prevent them from washing into the river.
“What goes in our stormwater system goes directly out to our rivers without being treated,” Jaeger said.