PalmettoPride, Palmetto Outdoor Center and One Columbia unveiled this mural, “Saluda In Bloom, by artist Austin “Slim” Gee, in an effort to help reduce litter and crime rates in the Columbia community and raise awareness about the litter issues across our state.

When this project was announced, Palmetto Outdoor Center applied for a mural on Candi Lane by the new river walk behind the zoo. Palmetto Outdoor Center is now the largest tubing outfitter in South Carolina. Michael Mayo, a local from Lexington, started the company in 2006 with a handful of tubes and a desire to get families outside and interacting with nature.

Through a combination of art, music and food families can now escape the four walls and explore one of many new installations in the area, such as “Saluda in Bloom.” Mike Dawson has been a monumental leader getting the river walk completed over the past 20 years and with his dedication, the mural will be seen by thousands.

Through a partnership with One Columbia to find the artist to complete this mural and the grant from PalmettoPride, Austin ‘Slim’ Gee was commissioned to complete the project.