Downtown Pella is officially wild. Throughout the summer, the City of Pella Parks Department has been adding artwork in Central Park around the theme for this year’s summer and art programs. Sculptures based on animals can be found in flower beds, and even hanging from a tree. Youth Services Librarian Katie Dreyer says the city’s departments partnered for their “Let’s Get Wild” programs for reading, art, and outdoor activities. The giraffes on display near the Central Park Fountain are named for Stella Turnbull, a 2025 Pella graduate who died in June, and Milly Zellmer, a young girl killed in a sledding accident in 2023. The lion is named for JT Atchison, a Class of 2023 graduate who died while training to become a soldier with the U.S. Army.