The beautiful murals surrounding Beach Flats Park have long chronicled the story of a neighborhood and its transformation – including the history of suffering and violence. Following what felt like a sudden erasure of the prior Latino heritage mural at the park, the time has come for a new work of art that will again represent the neighborhood’s rich history. The Santa Cruz City Arts Commission is now looking to the community to tell their stories, which will be chronicled in the new mural.

Last weekend, an event was held at the park itself, directly in front of the white wall that will soon host the new mural. Open to the public, the event saw staff and volunteers collecting stories from residents of all ages. Children and adults alike were free to share their stories with the staff and draw their visions for a new mural which will be shared with prospective artists.

At the event was a drum circle orchestrated by Don Davis, who praised the community involvement in the new mural. “It’s all about taking a vertical hierarchy and making it horizontal,” he said. Likening the story-gathering process to his drum circle every drummer is equally important to the circle and in Beach Flats every member of the community is equally important to the mural –and everybody has something to contribute.

The themes of the stories varied. One woman, when asked about her opinion of the neighborhood, noted that it was quiet, and a good place to sleep while she lamented the loss of local property to acquisition by the Boardwalk. Another man recalled how he had been a member of a dancing troupe that had performed in front of the old mural and described how such artistry had declined more recently. A popular theme was family, something that had been represented on the old mural and that those interviewed hoped to see again. Children spoke of fiestas, skate boarding, surfing and gardening.

Other nearby works of art have recently been restored after being targeted by vandalism, and are no less beautiful in their new forms. The new mural looks to follow much the same pattern.

The upcoming mural will be the product of an entire community’s memories and hopes for the future. With so many different perspectives and ideas represented, there is an abundance of possibilities for the new mural, and everybody can look forwards to seeing their stories immortalized on the park wall.