The Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., is developing a tour of new murals that have been painted on buildings, reported the Needles Desert Star.
The Needles Economic Development Corporation is developing the pathway for walkers, cyclists, and motorists. The newspaper said:
At the end of last year, the group was working on developing a walk, bike ride and driving tour of all the Route 66 murals that have shown up around town by muralists Dan Louden and Vicky Bowden. The plan is to have those routes figured out and then to encourage local businesses to get murals if they don’t already have one. Any new murals would be included in the various routes. Corporation members also approved setting aside a certain amount of money to be used as grants for businesses wanting a mural. There is to be an application process to get a grant from the corporation.
Davitt said he is anticipating the subcommittee working on the mural project will continue to develop those programs. He is looking forward to seeing what happens with those projects, he continued.
The murals along Route 66 and other downtown buildings even caught the attention of the Los Angeles Times.
On a semi-related note, the newspaper announced plans for the return of the Route 66 Hot Boat and Custom Car Show in Needles on Feb. 24-26.