John Mehl and his wife Ann came to the lakes area almost thirty years ago from the Twin Cities.

I was one of 133 people who came together in 2013-2014 to create twenty mosaic panels for the concrete planters and benches downtown. We worked in three-hour blocks of time, three days a week over nine months to create panels for the two planter boxes and three benches—truly a labor of love.


The cattail sculpture in the center of the planter was created by local metal artist, Paul Boyum. The mosaic waves capture the look of the sun glinting on West Battle Lake. The sculpture, taken together with the mosaic, represents Battle Lake’s greatest asset – our natural resources.

Planter boxes don a new look each season: With Spring comes tulips and daffodils; Summer, geraniums; Autumn, pumpkins and gourds and, over the long winter, evergreen boughs.

I’m pleased to have had a part in creating these works of art – in fact, the project changed my own artistic direction—prior to 2014, I worked in wood, today I work in glass, creating beautiful mosaics of my own design.

While you’re here, take a look at the brick building at 105 Lake Avenue three doors south. It was built for First State Bank in 1902, one of two banks serving the Battle Lake community back then. Unfortunately, the bank didn’t survive the crash of 1929, but the brickwork at the top of the building, Commercial Italianate style, has retained much of its original character including the leaded glass above the windows. The building has been home to several businesses over the years.