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Business owners and preschool leaders urge specific designs as Fort Pierce redevelopment board evaluates mural submissions
Summary
At a Fort Pierce redevelopment meeting, business owners and a preschool leader urged the advisory board to choose specific mural designs for storefronts and a daycare site as staff walked members through a point-based artist evaluation; staff will present final picks to the FPRA and FPA boards and anticipated artist starts in June.
The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency board heard public comment from local property owners and a preschool leader as it reviewed hundreds of artist submissions for public murals and prepared to recommend finalists.
"We liked the Parkamancos design the most… and then Mr. Rivero's option was our second," said Yvelle, owner of 42 South District Services Cafe, asking whether property owners could submit a top-three list of preferred artists for a mural on their building. Yvelle asked the board to allow property owners input on the final selection.
"This mural clearly captures the vision we have for our space," said Ronald Peter King, owner of Geo Chaser Preschool in Fort Pierce, urging selection of Anna Diana Papamento's design for a preschool site. "The use of bright colors, playful imagery, and themes of possibility aligns with our goal of creating an environment that inspires creativity."
Staff told the board it had received roughly 142 designs across four mural locations and outlined a point-based scoring system (3/2/1 points for first/second/third choices) that emphasizes artistic quality, theme fit, design and technical approach. The staff member said modifications to approved designs are expected after selection and that staff will coordinate those changes with property owners and artists.
During discussion, members questioned designs they felt were not locally specific — for example, submissions with mountain imagery — and urged modifications to better reflect Fort Pierce's identity. After tabulation for the Elks Lodge site, the board identified Shannon Hyacinth as the top-scoring submission and noted one entry that incorporated the lodge’s 100-year service as a desirable element.
A board member raised a budget question, saying, "we spent $61,000 on these [projects] instead of the $100,000 that was allocated; when does the other $39,000 go up?" Staff suggested possible uses such as wrapping utility boxes or funding youth projects, but specific allocations were not finalized.
Staff said it will bring the board's recommended and modified designs to the May FPRA meeting and then to the FPA board for final approval; staff expects artists to begin work in June.
The board took no final contractual award in the meeting; the next steps are formal approvals and agreement execution at upcoming board meetings.
