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Fairhope partners propose storm‑drain art campaign to raise runoff awareness
Summary
City staff and local partners presented a plan to place painted storm‑drain medallions and related student programming to highlight that only rain should enter drains and to support MS4 education requirements; partners will seek grant funding and return with design selections and a grant timeline.
Fairhope City staff and a team of local arts and environmental organizations presented a proposal to place painted art medallions on selected storm drains and run a student design contest to raise public awareness about stormwater runoff.
The project partners — the Eastern Shore Arts Center, the Pelican’s Nest, and the Fairhope High School art department — told the City Council during a May work session that the main goal is to make storm drains visually distinct while educating residents and visitors that “only rain belongs in our drain.” The partners identified roughly 10 candidate drains in high‑visibility locations and proposed using high‑school students as the primary design contributors.
“Only rain belongs in our drain,” said Nicole, the city presenter, explaining the outreach emphasis and linking the project to the city’s MS4 permit requirement for education and outreach. Lindsey Lawrence of the Eastern Shore Arts Center said the center would prepare and manage a grant application, run the student contest, and handle promotion and a reception for selected artists. Bridal Baggett, the Fairhope High School art instructor, said the contest would involve upper‑level art students and link art lessons to local environmental stewardship. Casey Hardman and Celeste Reidenbark of the Pelican’s Nest described field experiences they would organize so students can study water pathways, shoreline biodiversity and erosion as part of the project’s education component.
City staff described practical next steps: identify final drain locations, confirm whether any surface repairs are needed before painting, pursue grant funding (art grants and possible ADEM or other clean‑water education funds were suggested), and return to the mayor and council with design selections and a proposed timeline. A work order already exists for at least one drain that was noted during the site walk.
No formal action or funding was approved during the work session. Staff said the Eastern Shore Arts Center will lead the grant application and that the partners will bring proposed designs to the city for final permission and installation scheduling if funding is secured.
If funded, organizers said the project would combine visible public art, student engagement, and educational field experiences to reinforce the connection between urban litter/runoff and Mobile Bay.
