Did you know - the first street mural in Tampa is actually located in our community at the intersection of N. River Blvd. and W. Louisiana Ave.?The street mural was the brainchild of City Councilman, Mike Suarez and former Civic Association President, Steven Lytle. The goal of the mural was to make speeding drivers slow down. Local artist, Catherine Thomas, created the design and the neighborhood helped her paint the mural in 2017. There is a plaque near the mural to commemorate the moment.
On Saturday, June 22,2024 the mural received a loving touch up from the South Seminole Heights Civic Association. SSHCA board members arrived bright & early to set up snack and hydration stations for neighborhood volunteers. Painting of the mandala began at 10:00 AM and continued on for another four hours.
We received assistance from neighbors walking their dogs and playing with their children at the nearby park, who stopped by to fill in the blue, orange, and yellow triangles that make the mural so striking. Our younger volunteers were especially enthusiastic, and it wasn’t strange to see several older kids carefully showing their younger siblings howto paint inside the lines. In fact, if you look, you might even see some small blue footprints from a giddy child nearby.
Luckily, the fun didn’t stop there. Later that evening, a porch party was hosted at the house of Michelle Rice, our civic association president. This potluck saw good conversation and even better food. Neighbors brought smoky meatballs, three bean salads, creamsicle cocktails, fragrant arugula salad, deviled eggs, and, of course, some delicious Publix cookies.
The porch party stretched past sunset, as delighted neighbors, new and old, spoke to each other, sharing the best places to eat, watch baseball, and what they wanted to see in the community. It was a roaring hit, and we are excitedly planning the next one. If you would like to host a porch party, please email us at southseminoleheightssca@gmail.com.
Jade Scott has been serving as Secretary for the South Seminole Heights Civic Association since 2023. She has lived in South Seminole Heights since 2020.
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