Members of the REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI) spent a day at the Belleville Transit Center station earlier this month planting flowers and working to help make the station a welcoming space for all who use it.

Deb Frazier, CEO of RASI, presented a donation of $6,000 on behalf the RASI and the National Association of REALTORS®.

RASI joined forces with the St. Clair County Transit District, Citizens for Modern Transit and AARP to transform the Belleville Transit Center, located at 718 Scheel St. in Belleville.

Local officials and stakeholders kicked off a celebration of the project and recognized Belleville East and Belleville West High School students who helped inspire the vision behind the mural. The opening came months after getting input from transit riders, area residents, elected officials and stakeholders and completing construction.

The project team overseeing the “Transit Stop Transformation” Project at the Belleville Transit Center converted the concrete area between the bus bays and MetroLink entrance into an interactive, playful and engaging space. Using a vibrant-colored “Art Grows in Belleville” theme, the re-designed area now features new custom bike racks, shade structures, a Belleville city logo sign, benches, planters and elevated window artwork that was created by award-winning painter and mixed media artist Genevieve Esson. Her art is also featured at the Maplewood MetroBus Stop in Maplewood, Mo.