Lake Wales CRA accepts downtown mural and authorizes final payment to artists

The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency voted Feb. 10 to accept a newly completed mural in the downtown plaza and to authorize payment to the artists who created it.

Commission members reviewed photographs distributed in the meeting packet and several members said the packet photos didn’t fully capture the mural’s colors. Staff identified two contributing artists, Paul O'Neil and a co-artist named Alexa, and the artists addressed the board during the meeting. Artist Paul O'Neil thanked the commission and staff for the opportunity and said the mural is intended as an abstract depiction that includes native flowers and other design elements that relate to the city's garden identity.

One commissioner suggested the mural’s flowing element resembled a pathway through the nearby Oakley Park pollinator garden; O'Neil said the piece was meant to be open to interpretation. Members complimented the work and asked whether acceptance required formal action; staff confirmed that accepting the mural would permit payment to the artists. A motion to accept the mural and issue remaining payment passed on a voice vote.

The transcript records no contested objections to acceptance. Artists asked about future expansion of the mural across additional wall space and expressed hope that similar public-art projects would continue to enhance downtown.

The board’s acceptance completes the city’s procurement approval for this mural and authorizes staff to finalize vendor payment.