After more than two years of planning in Wakefield, the town’s first mural is complete. 

The mural is adjacent to Milford Lake, located on the bathhouse of Clay County Park. It was put into motion by Wakefield Walls, a group of volunteers bringing art to the community. 

The idea for the design was first brought up by Neveah Copenhaver, when she was a senior at Wakefield High School.

Copenhaver went to Wakefield Community Empowerment (formerly Wakefield PRIDE) secretary, Amanda Nichols, and the latter put the work into motion.

Nichols said they had two design ideas, depending where the mural would be located. 

“It just made sense to use this one with the spot we chose because it’s horizontal,” she said. “The other location would have been vertical so this one just fit.”  

After years of fundraising, Nichols said personal delays came into effect. Then when she spoke with Copenhaver’s mom, she learned her college career was coming to a close.

“Here this started when she was a senior in high school and now she’s a senior in college and I really wanted to get it done before she graduated,” she said. 

From there, Nichols contacted artist William Counter, of Enterprise, KS, and got the mural scheduled. 

“He made it happen way quicker and was able to get it done.”  

Counter also completed two murals in Clay Center. Counter is responsible for the K-15 and Kansas Stamp murals with A Mural Movement. 

The addition means that all Clay County communities are the owner of a mural since AMM began in 2020.