Holmes Beach’s flowering community garden soon may feature some additions.
The city’s parks and beautification committee members Dec. 7 discussed potentially adding a wind sculpture, book box and educational signs to Veterans Park outside city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
P&B vice chair Mary Lange said the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, of which she’s a member, is interested in partnering with the city to add a wind sculpture to the park following the club’s recent deal with Anna Maria to do something similar.
In October, Anna Maria commissioners approved a funding request from the club to add two rotating copper wind sculptures created by Utah-based artist Lyman Whitaker and Whitaker Studio alongside the flagpole at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd.
The city paid $12,000 of the $18,000 cost for the sculptures, with the garden club funding the remaining $6,000.
Mayor Dan Murphy did not respond to a Dec. 8 email from The Islander asking when the sculptures would be installed.
Lange said the garden club would help fund the purchase of another Whitaker sculpture — in Holmes Beach.
She said such a sculpture could replace a nonfunctional fountain at the center of Veterans Park’s community garden.
P&B member Eileen Jellison, also a member of the garden club, said the club is exploring a $6,000-$8,000 sculpture for Holmes Beach.
The committee agreed to move forward with the item, so Lange said she will invite garden club member Pat Short to the committee’s next meeting to present a proposal.
Jellison said the garden club also wants permission from the city to add signage at the park to educate people about its plants — similar to what the city did in Grassy Pointe Preserve.
Jellison said the garden club would seek grant funding to pay for the signs but asked if the city could handle the installation.
Chair Sage Kamiya, city engineer and public works director, said it might be preferable for the city to handle the purchase and installation since applying for small grants can be a “hassle.”
He asked for the club to provide wording for the signs and said the city would explore options.
The committee reached a consensus to approve moving forward with plans to add signs at the park.
Lange also brought up previously discussed plans for a book box at the park that would contain reading material and guides on gardening. She said she wants the city to move forward with creating the box.
Kamiya said he would coordinate with the city’s public works department to add the book box.
The P&B will meet next at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at city hall.
The city does not provide Zoom access to P&B meetings.