After a year of organizing, networking, and negotiating, BWNA’s initiative to restore and preserve the 6-year-old mural inside Wilshire Park’s covered pavilion reached a successful conclusion. The colors are vibrant once again and it now has a permanent protective coating to boot! The last step in the process was the signing of a Memo of Understanding agreement between BWNA, the city’s Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), and the CEO of Graffiti Removal Services, Paul Watts whose company provided and applied the protective coating. For its part, BWNA has organized a Mural Monitoring and Maintenance Committee co-chaired by Mary Hansel and Helen Stewart to maintain the mural for the next 5 years with professional backup from Mr. Watts and his crew if needed. The MOU was approved unanimously by the BWNA Board at the National Night Out Picnic. Here is an excerpt from the MOU text:
“The Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association (BWNA) agrees to maintain and if necessary to repair the mural. Graffiti Removal Services (GRS) will provide graffiti removal training to BWNA volunteers and to RACC at no charge. In the event of graffiti that requires professional attention (e.g, paint that covers most of the wall, multiple colors, etc.), BWNA will contact GRS whose crew will remove the graffiti free of charge. BWNA will notify RACC of all graffiti incidents.”