A striking new public art installation is beginning to take shape outside the Erie Insurance Arena as part of the Hidden Creeks Art Trail, a project designed to highlight the city’s hidden waterways and rich history.
The sculpture, created through a collaboration between artists Tom Ferraro and Ed Grout, represents the hidden waters of Mill Creek, which now flow beneath the arena and much of downtown Erie.
Mill Creek was redirected into the Millcreek Tube following the devastating 1915 flood that caused widespread destruction throughout the city. The Hidden Creeks Art Trail is intended to commemorate that history by marking locations along the creek’s underground path with public art.
The artists’ vision was brought to life by local craftsmen and businesses. Dave Davis, of Gene Davis Sales and Service, fabricated the metalwork that forms the centerpiece of the installation, while Geiger and Sons completed the granite work surrounding the sculpture.
Although much of the installation is now in place, the project is not yet finished. Additional pieces will be added before the sculpture is complete.
Once finished, the artwork will serve as one stop along the Hidden Creeks Art Trail, which follows the historic route of Mill Creek through Erie, connecting visitors with the city’s often-overlooked natural landscape and the story of the catastrophic 1915 flood that reshaped it.