ELLSWORTH—Main Street, as seen through the eyes of a child, is being created by Jonesboro artist Marilyn Dowling at the new Early Care and Education Center on Avery Lane.

During the design phase of Child and Family Opportunities’ new facility, according to Executive Assistant Phyllis Young, the agency’s Building Committee wanted a way for children to have ownership of the child care wing in a facility that also houses administrative offices.

The goal was to find a way to make the corridors outside of the classrooms as inviting and interesting to children as the inside of the classrooms, Young said in a press release.

The vision of “Main Street” came to life and the dividing hallway between the two wings of the building was designed with street-lamp like fixtures. Added were yellow floor tiles to resemble roadway markings. The committee then worked to find an artist whose work could capture the spirit of the project.

Dowling is a freelance artist who specializes in sign painting, illustration, cartooning and greeting card design. The 110-foot wall sized mural intrigued her.

“It sounded like a fun project,” Dowling said. “I sat down and started to draw and the themes and ideas just came together beautifully.”

The artist wanted to visually engage the children by giving them brightly colored, whimsical drawings with just enough detail but leaving opportunity for them to use their imaginations “to fill in the blanks because they are really good at that!”

Dowling has included common storefronts and businesses along the hallway such as a fire station complete with a firefighter and Dalmatian. Among the many storefronts being created are a toy store, pet shop, grocery store and a music shop.

With the sudden death of Child and Families’ longtime board member George Shepard, Dowling has adapted her original drawing to include “Shepard’s Hardware” as a remembrance of him and the 31 years he served the agency board with hard work and dedication.

An open house at the new center will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15.

The public is welcome to stop in and meet the staff, tour the facility, make applications for child care and Head Start, and preview Dowling’s mural that is scheduled for completion by mid-November.