In a “fantastic fusion of public service and artistic expression,” Peterborough students and the county have teamed up for the annual instalment of the “Paint a Plow” project.
Peterborough County’s public works operations division recently kicked off its 11th annual Paint a Plow initiative, which pairs the county’s public works division with five local elementary schools.
In conjunction with National Public Works Week in May, the county provided students with snowplow blades and the students put their creativity to work to transform the blades into “vibrant works of art,” a media release stated.
Bill Linnen, general manager of public works operations, told kawarthaNOW the annual initiative is both a fun and meaningful endeavour for the department, the students, and the general community.
“The program was started in an effort to engage with the community and bring attention to the public safety work the county is responsible for, (including) snow plowing,” Linnen said.
“The hope was that this could be a fun program for the county and for a few local schools,” he continued. “The result is a program that not only engages with students in schools across the county, but is a fun activity that those schools look forward to each year.”
The county shares photos of the students’ creations on its Facebook page, and their works are currently on display at the county’s Douro public works depot, located at the intersection of Highway 28 and County Road 4.
“The social media posts allow us to recognize the schools and students who participate in the plow painting program,” Linnen said. “Showcasing the creativity of the students by displaying the artwork at our Douro depot brings it all together for the community and visitors to see.”
And, of course, the decorated blades will add a splash of colour to snow-plowing operations on county roads when winter returns.
“This initiative not only promotes community art and creativity but also connects our essential services with the imagination and spirit of local students,” Linnen noted in the release.
“Timing this painting event with National Public Works Week highlights, helps to educate youth about the crucial role we play in the community while celebrating the vibrant creativity that makes our work even more rewarding.”
The participating schools this year were Chemong Public School and St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Selwyn Township, Buckhorn Public School in the Municipality of Trent Lakes, Havelock-Belmont Public School in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township, and Millbrook/South Cavan Public School in Cavan Monaghan Township.
