ARLINGTON — “Some Things Fishy in Arlington” is a community art project, a collaboration between the city of Arlington and the Arlington Arts Council, that’s looking to enlist the participation of the entire community.

Community groups, businesses and individuals are invited to order any number of four different types of fish — trout, salmon, sturgeon or rockfish — cut from plywood in either four-foot or eight-foot sizes.

Just like the cow parade during Arlington’s Centennial, the community is encouraged to get creative and paint one or more fish to display on the I-5 corridor during the upcoming winter, from Oct. 24 of this year through the spring of next year, to create “a bit of intrigue” and attract visitors off the freeway into Arlington.

The project is designed especially for the Olympic Games traffic that’s projected for next year.

“We want to see visitors from all over the world stop in town for lunch and a walk about,” said city of Arlington Recreation Manager Sarah Hegge.

The title, “Some Things Fishy in Arlington,” is a tribute to the frequent appearances of fish in Arlington’s public art collection, from Verena Schwippert’s “Salmon Spawning Pool” sculpted granite bench, near Burke Street along the Centennial Trail, and Marguerite Goff’s “Council of Fish,” at City Hall, to the most recent Harry Engstrom mural, “Life on the Stillaguamish River,” just completed this summer.

“Arlington honors fish and their natural environment through its public art collection,” Hegge said.

Now community groups, businesses and individuals can all have a go at painting fish for this new community art project. Business owners can display their finished fish in their windows or in front of their businesses, until the install date in October of this year.

Four-foot fish cost $5, and eight-footers are $10. Order forms are available at City Hall, or by e-mailing Hegge at shegge@arlington.wa.us. You can also call Jean Olson at 360-435-5866.

Fish will be cut as they are ordered, with periodic pick-up dates at Olson’s home conducted by appointment.

Painted fish must be delivered on the installation day, between 11 a.m and 2 p.m. Oct. 24, to 20400 Smokey Point Blvd. Fish that are completed earlier can be displayed around town before that date. For more information, call Hegge at 360-403-3448.