As you are making your rounds through McMinnville’s charming downtown Christmas decorations this year, be sure to admire the dangling glittery snowflake art directly beside the ice skating rink. This eye-catching exhibit is thanks to McMinnville’s Urban Forestry crew and some creative students and their teachers in the local schools.

City of Public Works’ Stormwater Program Manager Lyndon Bussell, also instrumental in the snowflake installment, explained the inspiration for the artwork.

“We actually got the idea from some public works at Dollywood,” said Bussell. “We borrowed one of their ideas. They were displaying art in the autumn season in the park made to engage their local kids. We just tweaked it to be snowflakes here in McMinnville for the winter season.”

Schools K-5 were provided a couple of designs for the snowflakes and then had their students decorate them. “Urban Forestry in McMinnville, Hank, John and Waylon, then rigged them up to hang from awnings beside the ice skating rink," Bussell said. The shimmery ornamental art works are signed by their creators.

“It’s a great way to include kids and to show their pride, absolutely,” continued Bussell. The winter snowflake project was proposed to and approved by the Community Engagement Committee earlier this year.