Artist Taylor White, Raleigh Arts, the Dix Park Conservancy, and local volunteers have partnered to redesign and repaint the Rocky Branch Greenway Tunnel, connecting the Walnut Creek Greenway to Dix Park.
This project will repair and replace the previous mural that local muralist Taylor White painted in 2019 and brighten the greenway tunnel that runs under S. McDowell Street and connects the Walnut Creek Trail through to Dix Park.
Merge Capital partnered with Raleigh Arts for the first greenway tunnel mural in the City in 2019 as part of a public-private partnership. Merge Capital’s interest and investment in the first mural project showcased how artwork could enhance greenway elements like tunnels. Merge worked with Raleigh Arts to select artist Taylor White to design a mural and test a new lighting system to enhance the artwork.
The mural was painted with the help of over 20 volunteers and extends the length of the 219-foot-long tunnel.
About the Artwork
From Taylor White -
I recently had the privilege of designing and implementing a mural project in a pedestrian tunnel along Raleigh's Rocky Branch Greenway. When Dix Conservancy expressed interest in sponsoring a volunteer effort to repaint this tunnel after an earlier iteration had fallen into disrepair, I thought it sounded like a terrific opportunity to spearhead a project that could fuse art, community spirit, and the surrounding natural beauty into a singular experience. Since the tunnel is a frequent passageway for joggers, cyclists, and pedestrians on foot, I felt excited to be able to serve my community on a project that would uplift the daily commute for Raleigh's active residents.
The mural serves dual purposes as both a work of art and as a navigational marker. The duck mural on one end represents Walnut Creek Wetland Park and nature reserve—a local treasure that provides a peaceful retreat to nature lovers. On the opposite end, the floral elements celebrate Dorothea Dix Park, a crown jewel in our city offering respite and recreation, famous for its seasonal sunflower field. These visual elements were carefully chosen to capture the essence of the two landmarks the trail connects, encouraging a deeper interaction between the space and its users.
Working with community volunteers was a deeply rewarding experience. The collective energy and passion brought to this project up-leveled it from a simple beautification effort into a community-building activity. Each brushstroke added a layer of community spirit to the Rocky Branch Greenway; the mural may be my design, but the artwork belongs to everyone who worked on it. I’m so grateful to Dix Conservancy, to Nick Neptune, to every volunteer who signed up to contribute their time and energy to this project, especially Jackie Sanders and Jean Gray Mohs, who helped me finish it before the rains came, and to Raleigh Arts for continuing to support public art projects like these.
In essence, this mural project elevates the daily commute and recreation of Raleigh's residents by adding artistic and sentimental value to a well-traveled route. The mural not only beautifies the trail, but the care and loving energy introduced into this tunnel creates a greater sense of safety and peace of mind for outdoor recreationists who have sometimes felt ill at ease. This project exemplifies how art can serve as a bridge between nature and urban life, adding an extra layer of meaning and engagement to the public spaces that make Raleigh such a special place to live and visit.
