Colorful collaboration

It started in 2007 with a letter to a Navy captain asking permission to paint the overpass.

Now, the Anderson Hill overpass is full of colorful wildlife scenes and is scheduled to be completed this weekend.

Central Kitsap teens Victoria Cartwright and Laura Fedorko set out to paint the graffiti-covered overpass in 2007 by mailing a letter to the Navy asking permission to paint the structure. The railroad trestle is operated by the Navy as part of Naval Base Kitsap and the Navy captain agreed a paint job was in order.

Tex Lewis, of Silverdale, joined Cartwright and Fedorko and the trio pushed forward with obtaining money, supplies and people to spruce up the Anderson Hill overpass.

“We ended up going through every major organization in the county and just about everyone helped,” Cartwright said.

Joanne Tejeda, of Belfair, designed the mural and Bob Jamison, of Port Ludlow, was recruited to lay out and paint large portions of the design. Central Kitsap High School art teacher Judy Sorrels and other local artists also chipped in to create the design.

“It’s kind of been a working project,” Fedorko said.

Cartwright, Fedorko, Lewis, Jamison and local volunteers have been painting the mural onto the Anderson Hill overpass for almost two weeks and Cartwright said it’s been well-received by the public so far.

“There hasn’t really been any negative comments,” she said.

Cartwright said it’s “surreal” to see the mural take shape on the overpass.

“I’ve been coming by at the end of the day and every day there’s a little bit more,” Fedorko said. “It’s great to see it on such a large scale because we’ve been looking at it on paper for a year.”

Silverdale Rotary members donated money and volunteered to paint the Anderson Hill overpass. Silverdale Rotary President Ken Burdette and other Rotarians painted rocks and other things on the overpass Sunday.

“We’ve had people out here all week,” Burdette said. “It’s not just money, but the ability to come out and help and be a part of it.”

Burdette said Rotary picks a President’s Project each year and decided the Anderson Hill overpass would be a good project for the organization. He said President’s Projects are typically one-day events, but Silverdale Rotary really wanted to contribute to this beautification project.

“I think it’s great. This has been graffitied and it hasn’t really been something of beauty,” Burdette said. “It’s an opportunity to spruce up the gateway to Silverdale from Anderson Hill Road.”

Cartwright and Fedorko said they are thankful local organizations stepped up to donate money, supplies and their time to paint the Anderson Hill overpass.

“We just really want to thank the Rotary and the Navy and everyone,” Fedorko said.

The teens said they are happy the project is nearing completion and hope the community enjoys the wildlife mural for many years.

“It’s a cool idea that we can come back in 20 years and still see it here,” Fedorko said.