Clearwater Turns Drab Sidewalks Into Inspirational Message Boards

CLEARWATER, FL — A strip of concrete is hardly the stuff of inspiration — unless you happen to live in Clearwater.

Already known for its annual Clearwater Beach Chalk Festival, in which more than 40 artists turn plain concrete sidewalks into works of art, and last year's Chalktober Fest featuring three-dimensional masterpieces on streets and sidewalks throughout the downtown area, Clearwater is now offering pedestrians a bit a poetic inspiration.

The city held the "Poetry Made Concrete" contest last year as part of its placemaking program in which Clearwater residents are challenged to reimagine, strengthen and beautify their communities through public art.

More than 200 poems were submitted. A panel of judges that included St. Petersburg College Professor Greg Byrd, a published poet and author, narrowed the entries to the winning five poems with touching, motivating and thought-provoking messages.

The winning poems were then made into large stamps that were pressed into the newly poured concrete on sidewalks in need of repair throughout the city.

The poem, "Only Love" by Shayna Walker can be seen at the intersection of South Hillcrest Avenue and Pine Street.

"One Step at a Time" by Ted Knapp is located at Willow Tree Trail and Hawthorne Drive.

"A Traveler's Prayer" by Karen Cunningham adorns the circle of 2400 Harn Blvd., near the Morningside Recreation Center.

"Talons & Tufts" by Kathryn Marquina is stamped in the sidewalk near the intersection of Stevenson and Overbrook avenues.

And "Concrete Paradise" by Jason Fritsky is featured near the intersection of Carlton Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

“This program brings art and literature to the public realm by transforming something as ordinary as a sidewalk into a work of art," said Juliahna Green, Clearwater's neighborhoods coordinator. "We hope that when residents happen upon these poems around the city, it will add moments of surprise and inspiration to an otherwise unassuming public space."

In addition to art on sidewalks and in intersections, the placemaking program has brought vibrant murals to otherwise drab building exteriors and transformed signal boxes, storm drains and dumpsters into works of art.

Click here to read all the winning poems.

See related stories:

• Realistic Chalk Art Crops Up In Clearwater For Chalktober Fest
• City Announces Winners Of Clearwater's Sidewalk Poetry Contest
• Clearwater Residents Encouraged To Beautify Public Spaces In 2020
• Clearwater Co-Sponsors Paint The Pavement Placemaking Project