Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Pierce advisory committee backs youth street‑banner showcase to refresh downtown streetscape
Summary
Members endorsed a youth art showcase to select K–12 student designs for streetlight pole banners along Delaware and other corridors; eligibility is limited to Fort Pierce residents enrolled in local schools and staff said materials, size and maintenance plans are being finalized.
The Fort Pierce CRA advisory committee on March 26 reviewed plans for a youth street‑banner art showcase that will invite K–12 students to submit designs for streetlight pole banners aimed at improving downtown aesthetics and community branding. Presenter (the advisory committee’s designated project lead) said the program will select roughly four students per grade and that eligibility will be restricted to Fort Pierce residents currently enrolled in Fort Pierce schools.
The proposal, described to the committee by the meeting’s presenter and staff, focuses first on the Delaware corridor, where some existing banners are torn and some poles lack any banner. "We're really focused on the ones on Delaware," the presenter said, adding that the program is intended as a showcase rather than a contest and will include outreach to art teachers, school administrators and youth organizations. Donna Benton, who introduced herself as a broker at Southern Castles Realty and a new board member, suggested bringing chosen students to a meeting and photographing them with their banner before it is hung: "I'd actually bring them into a meeting... have a photograph with them in the banner," she said.
Staff noted practical details committee members asked to clarify: the example banner size is 18 by 36 inches, and material and color choices affect costs and longevity. The presenter gave an approximate per‑banner price of about $57 depending on size, color and material, and board members urged the committee to specify durable materials and a maintenance/replacement plan so the program can recur annually or biennially without leaving worn banners unaddressed.
Committee members suggested outreach channels including the Saint Lucie County Education Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club, and asked staff to return with a finalized call for artists, clear material specifications and an estimate of how many poles the program will cover. Staff said they will collect designs, review them for budget and compliance, and bring finalists to the advisory committee for evaluation.
Next steps: staff will finalize the flyer and call for artists, refine cost and material options, and return to the advisory committee with a timeline and selection criteria for final approval.
