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Public Arts Board approves $8,500 grant for neighborhood storm‑drain murals, pilots painted intersection
Summary
The Clearwater Public Arts Board approved an $8,500 grant to support a community‑led storm‑drain mural and painted intersection pilot in the MLK neighborhood; staff will help implement and coordinate the project with the applicant and city departments.
The Clearwater Public Arts Board unanimously approved an $8,500 grant to a community group for storm‑drain murals and a painted intersection pilot in the Martin Luther King corridor.
The grant funds will pay artists, materials and project coordination for murals and a mosaic element derived from community drawings, board members heard. The applicant told the board she collected about 100 drawings at neighborhood events to inform designs and said the project is about community engagement and improving neighborhood appearance.
Board members and staff said the city will partner with the grantee on permitting and implementation. Planning and neighborhoods coordinator Juliana Green and staff member Miranda were identified as the city contacts who will work with the applicant to provide resources and oversight. The board noted that the project has already received a starter grant from the Pinellas Community Foundation and in‑kind or food support from local businesses including Walmart, Popeye’s and Dunkin’ Donuts.
The presenter described the project as 75% complete along MLK, said a storage‑facility wall facing MLK has been identified for painting, and said the city invited the neighborhood to participate as a pilot for a painted intersection program. The board approved the tier‑2 grant request during the meeting; the motion was moved and seconded on the record and passed with members saying “Aye.”
The board discussed legacy elements such as mosaics so children who participated can later point to their contributions. Staff said they will help with stakeholder outreach and permit coordination and will monitor the grant under the board’s purchasing guidelines.
Funding details provided at the meeting said this $8,500 award will come from the Public Art Design discretionary fund. The board noted $92,785 remained unencumbered in that fund at the time of the meeting and that $9,000 had been encumbered for the Clearwater Arts Alliance; the newly approved $8,500 was recorded as encumbered to the FYI applicant.
The board directed staff to coordinate the pilot steps, and the applicant said she will continue community meetings and artist selection work.
The board did not set a public ribbon‑cutting date during the meeting; staff said they will schedule follow‑up and return with implementation details as the project finalizes permitting and artist contracts.
