LEWISTON — Painted colorful hands became leaf imprints for a wooden “Community Tree” on a summer afternoon in Kennedy Park. The project was the brainchild of Lewiston Recreation Kennedy Park drop-in summer worker Ali Butler, who was assisted by Kaitlin Cornelio and Megan Beliveau.

Butler explained that she’d heard a quote about people being like a box of colorful crayons and added that, “just like what’s in a box of crayons, we are all different shapes, sizes and colors but we’re one community.” The symbolic multi-colored “Community Tree” will go on display at Lewiston City Hall, Lewiston Rec Department and the Lewiston Public Library.

The line to participate continued to grow throughout the afternoon, and those on hand to lend a painted hand included Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert Sr., councilor John Butler, school committee chairman Paul St. Pierre, school superintendent Bill Webster, deputy City Administrator Phil Nadeau, public schools/city assistant human resources director Jackie Little, Lewiston Police Chief Mike Bussiere and Lewiston police officer Craig Johnson.