Many residents and fans of the Mamakating Environmental Education Center (MEEC) gathered on Saturday, March 26 at noon for the unveiling of the new children’s room mural.

MEEC Director Jackie Broder said that the mural was a dream of hers since she started as director in November 2018.

Broder said the project had taken many different turns until Linda Feger from Orange and Rockland Utilities contacted her about funding the mural with an educational grant.

After receiving the grant, Broder said she was able to purchase many new educational materials for the MEEC and started planning the mural with the original artist.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Broder stated that, although priorities shifted, Orange and Rockland kept their promise to fund the mural even though it took more time.

In addition to this, Broder explained that the MEEC had their own hurdles in trying to stay open and applying for not-for-profit status. The project took another turn when the original artist for the mural stepped down, but artist Kevin O’Neill was found.

He is a freelance artist, graphic designer, illustrator and teacher at Marywood College. Broder described O’Neill as a pleasure to work with and “amazingly talented.” Broder stated that the mural would be an asset to the MEEC for years to come as an educational tool for wetland ecology but also in giving visitors “a sense of place,” a feeling of connectedness to a location.

With this connection, Broder explained, children will develop a sense of responsibility while fostering “social and emotional foundations needed for cognitive growth in children.”

Broder introduced O’Neill who expressed how much he enjoyed creating the mural. He said his hope is that children will use the children’s room and see the art and create memories that will leave an impact and hopes that those memories will lead them to bring their own children into the MEEC someday.

Broder expressed her gratitude to each and every person who has supported the center through letters and speaking at town board meetings and countless volunteer efforts.

“You have made MEEC what it is today,” she said. Broder also expressed that with the patience from Orange and Rockland and the “easy going confidence and sublime talent” of O’Neill, the end result “couldn’t have come out any better.”