Barricades Beautification Project

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The Port of Astoria has completed the Pier 1 Barricades Beautification Project—a small but meaningful effort to enhance one of the Port’s primary visitor-facing areas through a creative collaboration with Astoria High School’s Community Art Class.

The idea was inspired by a visit to a port in Washington, where working waterfronts were reimagined through public art and creative design. Seeing those examples, the Port recognized an opportunity to add color and character to Astoria’s waterfront. The vision came to life through a partnership with Astoria High School’s Community Art Class, led by Mr. Cereghino and coordinated by Environmental & Permits Manager Stacy Bandy.

The image shows a colorful, illustrated landscape with mountains, a sunset, and various scenes featuring people and objects, all in a long, horizontal format.

Since September 2025, 15 students have transformed seven standard cement barricades into vibrant works of art.

The mural features local icons including the Goonies House, Liberty Theatre, Astoria Column, the Megler Bridge, and other recognizable elements. A chain of buoys connects the murals, creating a visual story that celebrates Astoria’s heritage and character.

Once purely utilitarian barriers, the barricades now serve as colorful ambassadors, greeting thousands of visitors each year—including cruise ship passengers, Navy vessels, and other maritime traffic.

The initiative addressed two practical objectives: improving the appearance of a highly visible waterfront area and completing the work within limited resources.

By partnering with local students, the Port enhanced a prominent space while strengthening community connections. Students gained hands-on experience in public art, working with a client, and carrying a project from concept to completion.

While modest in scale, the project reflects the Port’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and stewardship of the working waterfront. It demonstrates how even small improvements can make a visible difference—both in the appearance of a place and in bringing a community together.

The Port of Astoria extends sincere thanks to the students and Mr. Cereghino for their creativity, dedication, and hard work.

The image features a painted concrete block with scenes of a pier, waves, a diver, fish, and colorful kites against a blue background.
A vibrant mural on a concrete barrier featuring colorful fish, seaweed, bubbles, and an abstract sunlit background.
The image features a colorful mural on a concrete barrier, depicting various scenes including a shouting figure, buildings, and natural elements.
The image features a colorful mural on a concrete block with coastal scenes, including a boat, mountains, and marine life like starfish.
A painted concrete barrier featuring a helicopter, lighthouse, and a heron against a colorful backdrop.
The image features four colorful illustrations: a bridge, a trolley car, a lighthouse, and a boat at sunset.
The image features colorful panels depicting a bridge over water, with playful animals and a sunset background.
A drawing on paper features a fish, a sun, and a landscape with a hut near the water, surrounded by colorful designs.
A group of people poses along a waterfront with a large bridge in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A group of people is painting a white wall at a marina on a sunny day, with boats and buildings in the background.
The image shows a colorful mural painted on a concrete barrier, featuring abstract landscapes and patterns.
The image features a painted concrete barrier with various colorful designs, including buildings and abstract shapes.
The image features a painted concrete block with scenes of a pier, waves, a diver, fish, and colorful kites against a blue background.
A vibrant mural on a concrete barrier featuring colorful fish, seaweed, bubbles, and an abstract sunlit background.
The image features a colorful mural on a concrete barrier, depicting various scenes including a shouting figure, buildings, and natural elements.
The image features a colorful mural on a concrete block with coastal scenes, including a boat, mountains, and marine life like starfish.
A painted concrete barrier featuring a helicopter, lighthouse, and a heron against a colorful backdrop.
The image features four colorful illustrations: a bridge, a trolley car, a lighthouse, and a boat at sunset.
The image features colorful panels depicting a bridge over water, with playful animals and a sunset background.
A drawing on paper features a fish, a sun, and a landscape with a hut near the water, surrounded by colorful designs.
A group of people poses along a waterfront with a large bridge in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A group of people is painting a white wall at a marina on a sunny day, with boats and buildings in the background.
The image shows a colorful mural painted on a concrete barrier, featuring abstract landscapes and patterns.
The image features a painted concrete barrier with various colorful designs, including buildings and abstract shapes.
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