Mural Group Granted Permit

HIGH SPRINGS – A Special Event Permit Application submitted to the City of High Springs on Jan. 11 triggered an outpouring of concern from citizens at the Jan. 27 High Springs City Commission meeting. The permit request at that time was two-fold.

The Heart of High Springs, Inc., a non-profit citizens group, requested to hold a special event to encourage citizen input regarding the City’s history and to discuss the possibility of celebrating its history with art on the sides of privately-owned buildings.

The same group also sought permission from the City to have a mural painted on the side of the Historic High Springs Elementary School and Community Center, which is located behind City Hall. The mural suggested by the group was of former school Principal Diedeman.

Typically, a Special Event Permit Application is approved or disapproved by the City Manager. However, due to concern about this application by the public, City Manager Ashley Stathatos placed this application before the City Commission. Seeing the confusion and misinformation expressed by citizens, Commissioners decided to hold a special workshop on the application, which was scheduled for Feb. 15.

Due to the pandemic and the isolation that followed during the past year, members of the citizen’s group realized that residents felt excluded. However, the purpose of the special event that the Heart of High Springs group was asking permission to hold was to include the public and to also seek public input.

At the Feb. 15 workshop, the Heart of High Springs organization trimmed their original request to just the special event and put the Diedeman mural on the back burner.

Commissioners decided by consensus to allow the City Manager to make the final decision to allow the Special Event to take place, which she did ultimately approve. All of the events are open to the public and the public is encouraged to participate and express themselves during the events.

The Heart of High Springs organization has prepared a series of events to take place beginning on Saturday, March 12. The first will take place from 1 – 4 p.m. at City Hall, 23718 W. U.S. Highway 27, and is called “Celebrating High Springs History.” This event will feature an exhibit of collected historic stories, free picture scanning, a presentation on the history of High Springs, art activities for all ages and the launch of the new walking tour of existing High Springs murals.

“Railroad Bob” Watson will offer a presentation on the history of High Springs 1800-1900 from 2 – 3 p.m. Good News Arts will host a large-scale team painting for all ages (materials provided). There will be a self-guided walking tour of existing High Springs murals, co-sponsored by the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. The tour will also be ongoing via Guidebycell with maps available at the Old School, online at heartofhighsprings.org and from area merchants.

From Sunday, March 13 – Friday, March 18 there will be a variety of activities and on Saturday, March 19, as part of the seasonal monthly Art Walk, the organization will host two events at the High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, 23674 W. US Hwy 27.

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