Painting flowers on 'Grow Together.'The community development organization (CDC) One South Euclid is making a positive mark on the eastern Cleveland suburb with a new mural that has been designated a city landmark.

The new mural is at 1449 Messenger Court in Marc's Plaza in the Mayfield-Green District—South Euclid’s downtown.

“Grow Together” was created by Euclid-based artist Olivia Oltmanns and represents a milestone for both the organization and the artist.

"This was actually her very first mural," says Kristian Hunter, One South Euclid's executive director. "So this was a great opportunity for her, and I think she actually did it all by herself.”

Artist Olivia Oltmanns and One South Euclid executive director Kristian Hunter.The mural project was funded through a $50,000 grant from the Mandel Foundation CDC Leadership Program. “One of the parameters that the funder had stated was that the artist had to be a local artist that we needed to choose," Hunter explains of Oltmann’s hometown roots.

After receiving approximately 15 submissions, a committee of board members selected Oltmann through a competitive process. The final design underwent some modifications to accommodate the mural’s placement on the 2 You Wines building.

"Originally, the first mockup of the mural, it actually had children's feet," Hunter notes, adding the feet were removed because "it's a winery, and you know, it's… children.”

The finished mural incorporates native flowers and plants. “Once it was finished and completed, we went through the South Euclid Landmark Commission, and it was processed as an actual landmark for the City of South Euclid,” Hunter says.

The South Euclid Landmark Commission is a citizen-led group that reviews the historical value of residential and commercial properties, public art, and monuments to determine if they are worthy of being community landmarks.

Lisa Quine's 'Come Together' mural on Mayfield Road.Creating an artistic corridor
The "Grow Together" mural complements artist Lisa Quine’s "Come Together" mural across the street on Mayfield on the side of the former House of Swing building. “Come Together” also has earned landmark status—creating a cohesive artistic narrative.

"The theme, or the mission and the theme of South Euclid, is ‘Come together and thrive,’" Hunter explains. "So we have the ‘Come Together’ mural that is across the street right on Mayfield, and then we also have this new mural, ‘Grow Together.’"

Hunter says One South Euclid plans to expand the artistic corridor.

"I'm looking for more opportunities to do it,” she says. “I know our board talked about the Monticello and Green area, so we are going to see if there are opportunities [to create] a mural in that area.”

The 2026 South Euclid Food Truck Park schedule.Summer programs and community engagement
One South Euclid has partnered with city officials in its summer 2026 South Euclid Food Truck Park series. The CDC was the nonprofit beneficiary for opening night in June and hosts its own programming on select Thursday evenings.

One South Euclid’s upcoming events at the Food Truck Park include Line Dance is My Therapy on Thursday, July 16 and a summer send-off event on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Hunter says she sees these events as more than just entertainment.

“I think the food truck park is something that is really homing in on community engagement and [One South Euclid] being more visible in the community," she says. "I want to use this summer to… be able to see exactly what the residents are looking for.”

Hunter says the CDC also plans to use these casual settings to gather resident feedback.

"I think [hosting] these types of events [and] intermixing them with fun and engagement, is a good opportunity—kind of meeting people where they are," she explains. "It's not like a community meeting—it's like you're having fun and you're just talking and keeping it nice and informal.”

Recess Rewind returns
One South Euclid's signature "Recess Rewind" event—a free adult version of recess, complete with music, food, a beer garden, and games—returns Friday, July 18 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Bexley Park, 1630 Wrenford Road.

"This is going to be our second time doing our Recess Rewind event," says Hunter. "The kids get to have fun, but this is an opportunity for the parents to come out and engage.”
A kickball team celebrating after the game at One South Euclid's Recess Rewind.The event will feature tournament-style kickball, dodgeball, sack races, and other field day activities for adults. There will also be a dedicated kids' zone with inflatables, face painting, and game trucks. The Hillcrest Family YMCA will offer fitness classes, and the city will host yoga classes.

"Last year, people had a really good time,” recalls Hunter, adding that South Euclid is joining One South Euclid in hosting the event this year. The event will also include food trucks and tropical snow cones.

Getting serious
In addition to its community engagement events and public art project, One South Euclid’s core programming includes senior landscaping and snow removal programs, which currently serves about 75 seniors age 65 and older, operates an exterior home repair program, and provides mini-grants for community initiatives like block parties.

“This is the stuff we're doing and for residents to see,” Hunter says. “This is how you can get more connected, and if you need that type of help or those services, you could be a part of this type of stuff, too.”

As One South Euclid develops its 2027-2029 strategic plan, Hunter sees this summer's programming as crucial for understanding community needs. "I want to use this summer and outreach events to actually show residents that we could be a source for them," she says. "We want to be able to support what the neighborhood and the city needs.”