Nestled along the southern edge of the Allegheny National Forest in Forest County, along State Route 66, is the small but mighty community of Marienville. Founded in 1833 by Cyrus Blood and named after his daughter, Marien, the town has long been known as a hub for outdoor recreation thanks to its access to the Allegheny National Forest’s ATV, hiking, equestrian, and snowmobile trail systems.
Cutting through Marienville is a section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail. Paralleling PA-66, this 27.5-mile stretch connects Marienville in Forest County to Marianne in Clarion County and welcomes walkers, runners, cyclists, and cross-country skiers. In the winter months, snowmobile use is allowed from Oak Lane in Marienville north to Goat Farm Road (Forest Road 226). A popular starting point for this section is the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, also known as the Marienville Four Seasons Trail Hub, housed in a beautifully restored B&O Railroad Station depot.
Just a short walk east from the Trail Hub along the Rail Trail, near the Marienville Area Library, sits the Marienville Trail Riders Snowmobile Club building. On the 71-foot-long metal building, something vibrant took shape in the summer of 2025: a mural celebrating Marienville, painted over twelve days by artist Mickayla Poland of PA Made and more than 30 community volunteers.
The mural, which spans almost the entire length of the building and reaches over 13 feet high at its tallest point, showcases the word “Marienville” surrounded by imagery that represents the area’s nature, recreation, and community throughout the four seasons. The design was developed collaboratively between Poland, the PA Wilds Center, and local community members.
The mural begins with spring, featuring the Allegheny National Forest sign, the town’s infamous Bigfoot, and a young baseball player. It flows into summer with scenes of the M.A.C.A. Pool, the historic logging industry, and a serene trail walk. Fall brings vibrant colors, an ATV trail rider, a wild turkey, and two hunters gathered around a campfire. The mural concludes with winter, where a bright red cardinal is perched beside a snowmobile rider and two joyful children mid–snowball fight.
But the true beauty of this project lies in the people who brought it to life. Over 30 volunteers, ranging from very young children to lifelong residents, joined in to paint. Some came for multiple days, while others stopped by for an hour. Several volunteers were from the local Abraxas youth program, and others were seasonal visitors who own cabins in the area. Each volunteer shares their love of the
community.
Throughout the project, countless trail users stopped to share words of encouragement, smiles, and heartfelt thanks. Marienville may be a small town, but it has big hearts. The kindness, enthusiasm, and willingness to lend a hand left a lasting impression on artist Mickayla.
This community mural was made possible through the Arts in Education (AIE) program, supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) and administered locally by the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA)—one of 14 AIE partners in Pennsylvania. The program connects professional teaching artists, like Poland, with schools, libraries, and community organizations to enrich arts experiences across the region. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, which served as the host site for this residency, had staff members who also joined in to paint.
Across the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors (PAGO) region, public art projects like this one continue to grow, brightening small towns, celebrating local identity, and bringing communities together through creativity.
