Fool Hollow Lake is perhaps the White Mountain area’s most popular recreation spot, with its vast cool water enclaves, towering cliff features and campsites nestled among the ponderosa pines. Located in the heart of Show Low, the park was developed as a wildlife sanctuary to protect the animals and various species that rely on the park for habitat. The area’s natural beauty is truly breathtaking in and of itself. Now, with the help of art students from Northland Pioneer College, the park’s infrastructure is becoming just as attractive.

This fall, in partnership with NPC, Fool Hollow Lake recreation area hosted the second session of the college’s mural painting class. NPC students have painted several public spaces in the park. The fast-paced six-week class consisted of covering two large rectangular exterior ramada walls with artwork tied to the park’s natural flora, fauna and history. Students were tasked with designing individual pieces and worked together to bring the concepts to life in puzzle-piece mosaics customized for the large canvases. NPC Art Faculty Magda Gluszek and Peterson Yazzie led the class in consultation with Fool Hollow Park Assistant Manager Fran Frei.