Underpass gets a facelift as part of Active Adventure Around Ararat

The underpass near KFC has been given a spectacular facelift as part of the Active Adventure Around Ararat project.

The Active Adventure Around Ararat walking trail was launched last year and is designed to get your mind and body active. It features a walking trail complete with checkpoints at which you are provided a clue and if you complete the trail you solve the puzzle.

The normally ‘underwhelming’ underpass has now had murals painted on its walls and a lighting upgrade.

A number of individuals and organisations assisted with the revamp, including graffiti artist Ashley Goudie from KIL productions, who spent 30 hours across three days working on over 200 linear metres of wall to create the mural, which depicts Ararat’s active and health conscious community.

Ashley used 87 cans of paint to complete the mural, which takes in the underpass and surrounding walls on each side of the railway line.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation updated some of the lighting in the underpass to LED lighting and the Department of Justice organised the cleaning and preparation of the walls with participants spending six days on the job and using 60 litres of basecoat paint.

EGHS health promotion officer Kelsey Weight is excited about this new addition to the Active Adventure Around Ararat trail.

“The underpass links Ararat north to the CBD and checkpoints two and three of the Active Adventure Around Ararat trail,” Kelsey said.

“The trail takes in Alexandra Gardens, Kokoda Park, the Library, Centenary Park and Emu Park, with each checkpoint featuring a different puzzle to solve, and most of the trail is suitable for all ages and abilities.

“You can complete the trail in one hit, or in sections, and once you have collected all the clues you will solve the puzzle.”

The puzzle is changed every month, so that the trail is always fresh and offering a new puzzle to solve.

Walking trail maps can be collected from the front reception of the EGHS Community Health Centre.

Before photos of the dark and gloomy underpass, and after, with graffiti artist Ashley Goudie and EGHS’s Kelsey Weight.