New Mural to Brighten East Entrance of Civic Center

A new mural coming to the Hillsboro Civic Center parking garage will celebrate the people, places, and natural areas that make Hillsboro special!

Artists Allison McClay and Rodolfo Serna are creating the 900-square-foot mural at the east entrance of the parking garage, transforming the space off NE 2nd Avenue into a vibrant landmark. The highly visible location sees significant pedestrian traffic to nearby businesses and during Downtown markets and events throughout the year.

Community Painting Events

Community members are invited to help paint parts of the mural with the artists during two painting events:

• Saturday, August 22: 9 am to 1 pm, during the Farmers Market
• Tuesday, August 25: 5 to 8:30 pm, during the Tuesday Night Market

A Celebration of Hillsboro

The expansive mural features scenes of oak trees, baskets of locally grown produce, native flowers, and scenes of Jackson Bottom Wetlands and surrounding farmland, highlighting the area's natural beauty and agricultural heritage.

The artists said their goal is to create a bright, welcoming focal point for the streets surrounding the Civic Center and showcase some of the many reasons to be proud of Hillsboro.

"As a lifelong resident and small business owner in Downtown Hillsboro, I see this mural as more than a celebration of our city. It represents the spirit of a community that honors where we've come from while embracing where we're going, says Youtheary Sim, owner of Sweet T Bakery.

I'm excited to see a mural that not only celebrates Hillsboro's history, culture, and natural beauty, but also invites the community to be part of creating it. I hope this mural becomes a place where people gather, connect, and see themselves reflected in the story of Hillsboro, while inspiring future generations to continue building a vibrant and welcoming community for all."

Shaped by the Community

McClay and Serna were selected for the project by a committee representing the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council, local businesses, City staff, and members of the local arts community.

In June 2026, the artists hosted a community listening session to share their work and gather input that helped shape the mural's theme and design. The proposed design was approved by the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council in July.

The mural is located within the Hillsboro Cultural Arts District, where the Civic Center serves as a hub for City services, public gatherings, and community events.

The design will also incorporate features of the existing building, including multiple pedestrian entryways, a vehicle entrance, and existing signage.