On Sept. 23, after mixed feedback from more than 50 respondents earlier in the month about K8e Orr and Joel Newmiller’s first set of proposed murals for the Hiawatha Gardens building, Creative Alliance Manitou Springs presented new design options and another brief survey to Manitou residents and business owners.

The second survey was promoted in the Bulletin’s Oct. 1 issue and through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, targeting social media users in Manitou Springs. Posters were placed at City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce to encourage phone-in voting and more awareness of the project.

By noon Tuesday, Oct. 5, the survey received 166 responses.

Of those, 117 (70.5 percent) voted for Option 1; 44 (26.5 percent) voted for Option 2; three people voted for “No Art Installation”; and two people selected the “Don’t Know” option. A total of 116 respondents (70 percent) reported 80829 as their home ZIP code.

“Our conclusion, based on the resoundingly positive feedback, is that the Manitou Springs community strongly prefers Option 1 to the other options, including no artwork at all,” said Becca Sickbert, Creative Alliance executive director.

“Work on the mural will begin as soon as the artists’ schedule and weather permits.”

To volunteer for the project or to read more about it, please visit manitouspringscd.org/openstreets.