NNPS art teachers, students created art featured at new Huntington Park Botanical Garden
Published June 17, 2026
Newport News Public Schools art teachers and students contributed pieces that feature prominently for visitors to the City of Newport News' new Huntington Park Botanical Garden.
NNPS students and staff designed and created the map at the garden’s entrance and a pair of decorative butterfly wings that will serve as a colorful photo backdrop for visitors. The newly-completed garden is located in the space formerly occupied by the Rose Garden and was unveiled at a ribbon cutting event on June 15.
Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones thanked the NNPS high schools for their contributions during his remarks.
“It is so fulfilling to continue to find ways to showcase student artwork across our city,” said Katie SheehanSmith, NNPS instructional supervisor for Visual & Performing Arts.
“We are grateful for the continued partnership with our city organizations to allow students to display their talents in such prominent places across Newport News.”
Warwick High School art teacher Sheila Scotti was asked by city Department of Parks and Recreation officials in January if she would like to make the map.
With contributions from Warwick ninth grade students Lila Roby and Leilani Smith, Scotti illustrated all of the locations represented on the map. It is four feet by three feet, made out of aluminum and contains a QR code that provides a self-guided tour of the garden.
Scotti thought it was fantastic to see the map installed and being used in the garden.
“I wanted it to be very clear was the biggest thing, because I’ve never made a map before,” Scotti said. “It was definitely an honor to be able to do it and to work with Parks and Recreation, and for the two students to have a part in it because it will be up there forever. It felt really good actually.”
Menchville High School lead art teacher Sara Clapper and teacher Amber Roddey, with the help of several students, created and painted the butterfly wings artwork at the request of Parks and Recreation. The large pair of butterfly wings is located in the area called the Virginia Living Museum Native Pollinators Garden.
“We got input about different design ideas from quite a few students and used a few of their ideas, combined some of them together, and then incorporated our own,” Clapper said.
The piece contains painted images referencing Virginia and the Virginia Peninsula including the Northern Cardinal, which is the state bird of Virginia; dogwood blooms, representing the American Dogwood that is the state flower and tree of Virginia; roses in a nod to the former Rose Garden; and a ship sailing in front of a striking sunset to honor the local area’s rich maritime and shipbuilding traditions.
The upper left wing section depicts the tiger swallowtail butterfly, which is Virginia’s state insect. The blue outline around it mimics the Newport News coastline, including a handful of waterways, waterway markers and a red dot where Huntington Park is located.
“I love it,” Clapper said. “There are so many cities that have a similar photo op, so I think it’s a great addition to the city and the park. We had a great time and it was a lot of fun. It’s pretty exciting.”
