Artists Sought to Beautify City's Entrance

The Greater New Port Richey Main Street organization wants to make the city's entrance a little more welcoming.

 To this end, the nonprofit is looking for people who want to help beautify the bridge over the Pithlachascotee River at the western gateway to downtown. The group needs adult and youth artists who are willing to volunteer to paint murals of their own design on benches that sit along the bridge. Applications are now being accepted for the project. To be considered, artists need to submit proposals and sketches of their proposed murals.

The project involves 16 benches along the bridge. As of right now, Main Street officials say those benches are an eyesore.

"The benches look terrible," said Beth Fregger, Main Street's executive director.

The hope is to murals that are reflective of the Nature Coast and its plants or animals. Historic downtown themes are also wanted, Fregger said.

Main Street is dedicated to downtown beautification and historic preservation. The group has completed bench paintings on the bridge  in the past. The last attempt was about 10 years ago.

The project is hoped to not only make the entrance to downtown look better, but also to highlight Main Street's programs, Fregger said.

Each bench is 24 inches wide, 55 inches long and 18 inches high. The hope is to have eight benches painted by adults and eight by students.

Main Street will be providing basic supplies, but is asking artists to bring their favorite brushes.

The murals will be judged after the benches are painted, and awards will be given out in three categories: Best Student, Best Adult and People’s Choice.

The benches will be cleaned and prepped by Main Street prior to painting. Murals will remain for one full year after the event.

Artists selected for the project will paint their murals between Nov. 10-11.

If this project is successful, Main Street will tackle the other 16 benches along the bridge sometime in the future. 

To find out more about the application process, email Beth Fregger at beth@nprmainstreet.com  or call her at 727-842-8066.