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Commission approves donated mural at North City Park to promote youth mental-health messaging
Summary
The commission approved placement of a grant-funded mural titled “#Thriving” at North City Park, donated by Speak Up Let’s Talk About Mental Health and designed by local artists; the project carries no city cost and will include a small plaque and a future buddy bench.
The Safety Harbor City Commission on Monday approved the location and design for a grant-funded public mural at North City Park intended to promote mental-health awareness among youth.
Shannon Schafer, the city’s recreation superintendent, said the local nonprofit Speak Up, Let’s Talk About Mental Health received a Golden Grants award aimed at supporting children’s programs and offered to donate the mural and site work to the city at no cost. Schafer presented three designs and said the Public Art Committee recommended a design titled “#Thriving.” “#Thriving is inspired by the popular old school nineties trend which is embraced by today's youth,” she said, noting the committee selected the design because it “appealed to all ages and genders.”
Schafer told commissioners the preferred wall faces a playground and the park sits between two neighborhoods, increasing visibility to families and children. Dawn Hanley, president of Speak Up, Let’s Talk About Mental Health, and the artists Tom and Mena Kiernan were present for the discussion. The city confirmed it will install a small plaque to acknowledge the artist and project; Hanley has also offered to donate a buddy bench near the mural in the future.
A motion to approve the design and location for the grant project carried 5-0. City staff told the commission the nonprofit will handle site preparation for the wall, and there is no fiscal impact to Safety Harbor other than standard plaque installation and permitting.
