Draper Road Community Coloring Book

The Draper Road Community Coloring Book is an interactive public art project located in the heart of Blacksburg’s historic downtown, along the protected pedestrian area of Draper Road. Community members are invited to contribute to the artwork with sidewalk chalk, which can be found in a mailbox affixed to a nearby planter to color portions of the scene, adding their personal artistic touch. Posted instructions guide participants in hunting for specific plants and animals featured in the mural.

To create this mural, Town of Blacksburg project staff worked with a local artist to design and execute the artwork, which was placed in mid-August. The current theme features flora and fauna native to Appalachia in autumn, including seasonal flowers and animals like timber rattlesnakes and zebra swallowtail butterflies.

There are plans to refresh the mural theme on a quarterly basis. Town of Blacksburg staff are happy to receive suggestions that could be considered for future installations! Submit your suggestions by signing the "Guestbook" portion of the Let's Talk platform, below. Project themes should include reference to natural scenes such as local wildlife and natural features and/or natural processes such as the water cycle, life cycle of animals, etc.

The Draper Road Community Coloring Book is a result of a collaborative effort between the Town Office of Sustainability, the Town Engineering Department, the Blacksburg Public Arts Committee and local artists.