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Fairhope partners propose storm-drain art project to raise runoff awareness
Summary
Eastern Shore Arts Center, Fairhope High School and Pelican’s Nest pitched a grant-funded storm-drain medallion and mural program aimed at reducing litter and sediment entering Mobile Bay and meeting MS4 education requirements.
Fairhope City staff and local partners presented a plan at the work session to install artwork on and around roughly 10 storm drains downtown, paired with student education activities, in an effort to illustrate how urban runoff reaches Mobile Bay.
The project team said the goal is to create visually engaging medallions or small murals on storm drains and to pair those installations with school- and field-based lessons about stormwater and pollution. “Only rain belongs in our drain,” a presenter said while describing the outreach message the project will carry.
The Eastern Shore Arts Center would manage grant applications and promotion, the Fairhope High School art department would run an in-school design competition, and the Pelican’s Nest would deliver field trips to the bay and classroom follow-ups tying the designs to local ecology. Lindsay Lawrence, outreach director for the Eastern Shore Arts Center, told the council the center would prepare the grant, manage reporting and facilitate a reception for selected student artists. Brian Beck, a Fairhope High School art teacher, said the project would provide “a great opportunity” for upper-level art students to connect art practice with environmental stewardship. Casey Hardman of Pelican’s Nest described using the project to highlight “the biodiversity in our bay” and to give students a hands-on look at water pathways; Celeste Rabinbark, Pelican’s Nest campus and education coordinator, said students would use field equipment and virtual-reality tools during follow-up activities.
City staff said they have identified about 10 candidate drains; examples shown to the council included sites by Art Alley, across from Knoll Park, in front of Pelican’s Nest, the playground, Gaston Plaza and near Fairhope West where a walking school bus gathers. One council member asked whether a cracked drain near Pelican’s Nest would be repaired before painting; staff said a work order already exists for that location. The group described a timeline driven by grant cycles: grant applications would be pursued in April with the aim of implementing the project during the following school year if funded.
Project proponents also noted the city’s MS4 permit requires education and outreach on stormwater; they said this art-focused program is intended to help satisfy that obligation while engaging residents and visitors. The presenters said they would pursue art grants first through the arts center and check whether environmental grants (ADEM or similar) could fund the education component.
No council action or vote was taken during the work session; presenters asked for permission to continue with grant-seeking and to return with site selections, design-process details and a recommended timeline if a grant is awarded.
If the grant is awarded the partners expect to coordinate design selection, city permission to paint drainage structures, and a community reception to recognize student artists.
