It’s been several years since the murals along the flood wall in Newport have been sitting unfinished, but the city promised in an update Tuesday that the murals will eventually be completed.
Work on the city-designed murals along the flood wall at Dave Cowens Drive, which were designed to commemorate the city’s 225th anniversary, began in 2020.
But work was “temporarily paused due to concerns about one of the panels,” the release said, though it did not get into specifics about what the panel was or what the concern was about it.
The city said it remains committed to completing the murals.
“Given their prominent, unfinished state in a highly visible location, we recognize the public’s interest and remain committed to moving forward,” the release said. “Our goal is to complete these artworks in a way that reflects our shared heritage while enhancing the beauty of our city.”
An unrelated request to commission a mural on the street-facing side of a building in Newport’s historic district has since sparked further debate about mural regulations, of which the city has none.
So, while the city reassesses how to approach the uncompleted murals on the flood wall, it is also planning to develop regulations and guidelines for public art in Newport going forward.
“This process presents an exciting opportunity to encourage artistic expression across our community—but it also requires careful consideration,” the news release said. “On one hand, murals can celebrate creativity, boost local identity, and attract visitors. On the other, without guidelines, we risk inconsistent quality, potential conflicts over content, and impacts to our historic character.”
As Newport resumes work on the flood wall murals and explores regulations for future projects, the city said it aims to keep the public informed and engaged.
“This is a chance to enrich our city’s landscape responsibly, and we welcome your input as we shape these efforts,” the release said.
Click here to email the city with suggestions or ideas.
