Dear Mayor, Mayor ProTem,
In 1961 a Virgin Mary was painted in the corner of McDonnell Ave and Dunham Street. This mural was more than paint on the wall, its culture, its faith its Bristow Park. For decades this mural was synonymous with Bristow Park. When families lost loved ones or were experiencing life’s challenges, they laid flowers and prayed to the Virgin Mary. When that house was sold and the mural was painted over a small piece of Bristow Park died. As a community we are losing our culture to what’s the newest fad on social media. We need culture back at Bristow Park, we need community back at Bristow Park. The community would get together and to perform Danza Azteca for the Virgin Mary. People would share stories, pastries and warm drinks. There was a sense of community, a sense of unity, a sense of pride. The owner of the house heard the story and when I reached out to him he was more than happy to allow a new mural on his wall along with a poem on the opposite side that will be about Bristow Park. Any one visiting Bristow Park will be able to see the mural. The kids in the neighborhood will learn what community, faith and culture. On behalf of the people that grew up in Bristow Park and the kids and families living there now, I ask that you please approve funding for the mural for our community and our culture.
Cost:$26,050.00
$18,050.00 Virgin Mary Mural
$8,000.00 for the poem
Total: $26,050.00
We plan to raise money to help with the cost of the mural. If the City can help us with a minimum of $12k we would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Rolando Lenny Ortiz