Rainbow ‘Mo Muskie’ fish mural dedicated in Warren

Warren is turning a page on its industrial past as the city continues its push to make the Mahoning River a hub for local recreation. The latest effort arrived in the form of a 100-foot mural titled Mo Muskie, which now decorates a concrete wall at the former Mahoningside Power Plant site.

Artist Aaron Chine designed the massive fish in a spectrum of 29 colors to draw eyes to the waterfront. Mayor Doug Franklin and other local officials joined a crowd of 100 residents for the dedication ceremony. While some early critics questioned the value of highlighting a river once associated with heavy industrial pollution, the project aims to shift public perspective toward the waterway as an active, clean resource.

The mural serves as a waypoint for the city's broader strategy to connect the Peninsula area to the river. The project received backing from the group Fund for Warren Future, which sees the river as a connector between neighboring communities. As part of the ongoing development, the city secured a $375,000 grant for new public amenities including walkways, benches, tables, and a gazebo to improve access to the site.

During the ceremony, the mural was christened with a locally produced beer named after the artwork. Plans are currently underway to remove the surrounding fencing to allow visitors to walk up to the wall. This addition marks a concrete step in the effort to move away from the city's reliance on its manufacturing history and toward an outdoor-focused future for the Mahoning Valley.