Denver Artist Repaints Mural With Community Help
Pat Milbery covered his 10-year-old Broadway mural with a new design during a Veterans Day event that raised funds for Veterans Exploration Therapy.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Artist Pat Milbery painted over his 2016 "Love This City" mural at Broadway and Park Avenue in Denver. Residents joined him to paint a new design celebrating the city at a Veterans Day community event that doubled as a fundraiser.
Why it matters
The project brings Denver residents directly into the creation of public art, a shift Milbery says he wanted after the original mural was painted without community involvement. It also channels the event's proceeds to Veterans Exploration Therapy, a nonprofit that uses adventure to engage veterans.
The original mural, painted in 2016, was 10 years old when Milbery covered it with the new design. The source does not disclose how much the Veterans Day fundraiser generated for Veterans Exploration Therapy.
The players
Pat Milbery
Denver artist who painted the original "Love This City" mural in 2016 and led the community repainting project.
Veterans Exploration Therapy
Nonprofit organization that uses adventure-based activities to engage veterans, and the beneficiary of the Veterans Day fundraiser.
Deke Letson
Founder of Veterans Exploration Therapy, the nonprofit that received proceeds from the community event.
The details
Milbery painted the original "Love This City" mural in 2016 at Broadway and Park Avenue. On Veterans Day, he covered it with a new design, with residents helping paint alongside him at an event that also raised money for Veterans Exploration Therapy, a nonprofit founded by Deke Letson.
Timeline
2016: Milbery paints the original "Love This City" mural.
Veterans Day 2026: Residents help repaint the mural at a community fundraiser.
Before Thanksgiving 2026: Milbery expects the new mural to be completed.
Roadmap
The project revisits Milbery's 2016 "Love This City" mural, which he painted alone, and reverses that approach by inviting residents to help create the replacement. It marks a departure from the solo model of his original work toward a participatory approach to the same Broadway site.
Denver residents can take part in future community art projects like this one, which turned a public mural into a shared activity. The event also gave attendees a direct way to support a veterans' nonprofit during the holiday season.
The takeaway
Community-built public art can turn a fixed landmark into a shared project and a fundraising opportunity. Residents interested in similar efforts can look for local events that pair volunteer painting with charitable causes.
What happens next
Milbery expects the new mural to be completed before Thanksgiving 2026.
Further reading
For more local giving stories, browse the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH).
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