On a late-August weekend, downtown Allen Park, Michigan, was transformed into an open-air gallery for Paint the Park, the city's second annual public-art festival. Eight muralists created large-scale works on business walls, more than fifty artists and makers set up booths, and visitors could pick up free watercolor kits and watch live demonstrations from glassblowers, woodworkers, ceramicists, and blacksmiths. After dark, the murals were illuminated with a light show.
The festival is presented by the Allen Park Downtown Development Authority in partnership with The Mural People, a Southeast Michigan creative agency. The project grew out of the work of artist Michelle Tanguay, who was first asked to paint a mural on Grosse Ile and went on to produce a mural festival in Trenton before bringing the idea to Allen Park. "I was asked to paint a mural on Grosse Ile that turned into me producing a mural festival in Trenton and now Allen Park, and it's just been really amazing," she said.
The first Paint the Park, held in September 2025, brought eight murals to downtown. Jamie Hora of the Downtown Development Authority said the response prompted this year's expansion: "Last year we had eight murals painted throughout the city, they were such a huge success that this year we decided to expand on the project."
This year's roster of eight muralists, as listed on the festival's website, included Sonny Sundancer, Damien Mitchell, Paul Watty, Britt Johnson, Freddy Diaz, Alexa Daluz, Kevin Burdick, and Kelly Golden. Paul Watty, a muralist from Holland, told reporters, "People like the process most. I think you feel honored that you can do this, do something for the community."
On Saturday, August 22, Slow Roll Detroit, led by founder Jason Hall, completed its first Downriver ride and mural tour through the city, as reported by WDET.
Due to the threat of severe weather, the festival's public events were condensed to Sunday, August 23, from noon until 10 p.m., according to WXYZ. Still, the day featured the art fair, live demonstrations, and the light show that brought the murals to life after sunset.
Tanguay described the community's reaction as "truly overwhelming." "It's one thing when you meet with a DDA and you're like, 'hey I have this vision, these murals are going to spread' — it seems very abstract," she said. "But the support from the community has been truly overwhelming." Jamie Hora echoed that purpose: "It's bringing people into Allen Park that maybe wouldn't have been here otherwise."
With the murals staying on the walls long after the festival, they now serve as a self-guided walking tour, inviting visitors to explore downtown Allen Park and spend more time in the city.