Motivating Philadelphia with a Giant Raccoon Eating a Soft Pretzel | Natalie Shaak

Philadelphia’s newest mural, located on East Thompson Street, was designed by Evan Lovett.


Natalie Shaak saw a need, decided to take matters into her own hands, and has now inspired an entire neighborhood — with a soft pretzel and a raccoon.

Philly.com:   Philly's newest mural: A pretzel-eating raccoon


Shaak was dismayed to find the playground, which has only one piece of run-down equipment, was used mostly by adults and filled with trash, including discards from customers of a nearby Wawa, drug needles, and cigarette butts.

So, she took matters into her own hands and started a GoFundMe page to raise money.

“The playground equipment is old, rundown, damaged, dirty, and even tagged with graffiti. To say it is bleak is an understatement,” she said on the GoFundMe page. “But we as a community can make a difference by taking action.”

- Philly

You see her motivation and the raccoon mural was the result.


Shaak partnered with  V.U.R.T. (Visual Urban Renewal & Transformation, the group responsible for the mural of the SEPTA token-eating squirrel), and started the GoFundMe page to raise money for a mural of a pretzel-eating raccoon.

“People in Philly are struggling and this playground is a picture of that struggle,” she wrote on GoFundMe.

- Philly


Here's another which was sponsored by VURT:

Find more about the images at Instagram:  vurt.creative


Shaak has been in contact with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and plans to apply for a city grant for more improvement and another from SugarHouse Casino. V.U.R.T. has agreed to supply two new trash cans — with a cool design of some kind.

But first she wants to hear from her neighbors, many of whom she has met since the mural was painted and who are excited about the change. A meeting is planned for Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. to talk over the possibilities for what could go in the space.

“This is a diamond in the rough,” Shaak said. “It could be a hub for everyone in the neighborhood to gather.”

Soft pretzels will be served, she said.

- Philly


Meet Natalie Shaak:

Instagram:  natalieshaak

At first I thought the flowers were in her hair and that would have been a great hippie effect but not today.

She's quite young and yet got all this done anyway.  The Rockhouse is impressed.