Heart of Rome Mural Lights Up Greenway
Artist Renee Peterson completed a 192-foot mural along the AdventHealth ECO Greenway featuring symbols of Rome's history, nature, education and community.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Painting
Live Poll
Do you think public art like murals is making your community better?
Local artist Renee Peterson finished a 192-foot mural titled 'Heart of Rome' along the AdventHealth ECO Greenway beside the Fifth Avenue Bridge. The project was a collaboration between Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful, TRED of Rome Floyd County and AdventHealth Redmond.
Why it matters
The mural transforms a wall that had accumulated graffiti as part of the area's historic levee system into a more inviting public space. Organizers aimed to highlight the people and traditions of Rome rather than only its landmarks.
The mural measures 192 feet and was completed in approximately three weeks, including preparation by the city's Public Works Division, which pressure-washed the wall first. About eight AdventHealth volunteers applied the base coat during the hospital's Day of Service.
The players
Renee Peterson
A local Rome, Georgia artist who created the Heart of Rome mural.
Hannah Nabors
A special education teacher at Armuchee Elementary School who was featured in the mural after recovering from a leg amputation and completing the Boston Marathon.
AdventHealth Redmond
A local hospital that collaborated on the mural project and whose volunteers applied the base coat during its Day of Service.
The details
The design centers on a large heart filled with symbols of Rome's history, natural beauty, education and community, including a bee recognizing the city's Bee City USA designation and a ginkgo leaf referencing its Tree City USA status. A runner using a prosthetic running blade represents Hannah Nabors, a special education teacher at Armuchee Elementary School who lost part of her leg in a 2025 car crash and later completed the Boston Marathon.
Timeline
2025: Hannah Nabors lost part of her leg in a car crash.
Earlier in 2026: Hannah Nabors completed the Boston Marathon.
Approximately two years before completion: Organizers began discussing a mural for the wall.
November 9, 2026: The completed Heart of Rome mural was reported.
Season Trajectory
The mural extends Rome's Bee City USA and Tree City USA designations into public art along a major community greenway. It adds to a pattern of civic beautification projects that use murals to reshape previously neglected infrastructure.
Residents can view the mural while walking or cycling the AdventHealth ECO Greenway near the Fifth Avenue Bridge. The project shows how a previously overlooked wall can be turned into a gathering point for the community.
The takeaway
Community art projects can turn overlooked public spaces into places that reflect local identity. Residents interested in similar efforts can look to local beautification groups for ways to get involved.
Further reading
For more local public art, explore Painting coverage across Rome.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Northwest Georgia News.
Live Poll
Do you think public art like murals is making your community better?
