A box housing components for the traffic signal at the intersection of 196th Street Southwest and Scriber Lake Road is a little prettier now, thanks to the work of sixth graders at Cedar Valley Community School.

It is the final reveal of a project started by the Lynnwood Arts Commission. Commission Member Paul Richards said the commission decided it wanted to use children’s art because it would give them a greater sense of civic pride. The box at the intersection of 196th Street Southwest and Scriber Lake Road is one that Cedar Valley Community School students will pass on their way to school every day.

The students worked with artist Amaranta Ibarra in March to draw individual pieces based on nature, such as the monarch butterfly. She then combined the artwork into a comprehensive piece to cover the entire box.

The artwork on the box was dedicated during a brief ceremony on Tuesday morning. Richards, along with Mayor Nicola Smith and School Board Member Diana White, thanked the students for their art, and thanked the city for working with Cedar Valley Community School to display the art in a public place.

The students were then each given an Otter Pop and a chance to look at the art up close before returning to class.

–Story and photos by Natalie Covate