SUPERVISORS OK AGREEMENT FOR PRADO DAM MURAL

Patriotic design is based on previous one painted for the bicentennial in 1976

The Board of Supervisors on March 7 signed off on contracts between the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District and a Corona nonprofit, permitting the latter to begin the process of recreating an iconic patriotic mural on the crest of the Prado Dam spillway.

“The mural serves as a beacon of pride and patriotism for the surrounding communities,” Flood Control & Water Conservation District General Manager Jason Uhley said in a statement posted to the board’s policy agenda.

In a 4-0 vote without comment, the supervisors authorized the district to enter into a four-month compact with the Bicentennial Freedom Mural Conservancy, establishing that the conservancy should have unfettered access to Prado Dam and that all rights and licenses stemming from the nonprofit’s work on the spillway will be reserved to the district.

Prado Dam is the property of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but the Flood Control & Water Conservation District operates within the space.

The Corps last fall initiated removal of the nearly five-decade-old Bicentennial Mural painted on the spillway crest in celebration of America’s 200th birthday in 1976.

The Bicentennial Freedom Mural Conservancy intends to create a mural that’s virtually identical to the previous one, utilizing more environmentally friendly products and relying on mostly private funds to complete the project.

“The mural will be restored to its bright red, white and blue hues for another generation to enjoy,” according to a district statement released in September.

The Corps has granted the district a license for repainting the mural, which is expected to require at least two months’ work, entirely through volunteer labor. The new display will be permitted to remain in place for at least five years.

The original mural, which had been situated inside the flood control channel for the Santa Ana River, was painted in May 1976, when more than 30 Corona High School students spent several weekends voluntarily working on the project.

Upon completion, it read “200 Years of Freedom,” with a space depicting the Liberty Bell, followed by “1776-1976” painted in red, white and blue.

The spillway is visible from portions of state Route 71 and state Route 91.