Mayor Eugene Foulcard of Franklin, alongside Main Street Director Ed “Tiger” Verdin, is extending an invitation to the community for input on the upcoming mural in Historic Downtown Franklin Pocket Park. Renowned artist Robert Dafford will also be present at the gathering, seeking public perspectives for the mural initiative. The event is scheduled for Friday, February 16th at 1 p.m. and will be held at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts. The meeting is open to all who wish to participate.
Robert Dafford, an artist celebrated for his extensive portfolio of over 500 murals, has made his mark in cities such as Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Los Angeles, as well as internationally in Paris. The addition of his artwork in Franklin seeks to enhance community engagement and bolster visitor attraction that would contribute to increasing the city’s tax revenue.
A staple motto of ‘Shop Local, Eat Local, Play Local and Fuel Local’ reflects the city’s commitment towards funding matches required for its progressive projects. These projects include a wide array of enhancements such as a $400,000 upgrade of park equipment across four local parks, a $2.4 million restoration of Cayce Street, significant HVAC improvements in community centers with a budget of $1 million, water infrastructure developments worth $2.3 million, traffic flow improvements with a new roundabout on Northwest Blvd., and a $536,000 renewal of sidewalks among many others. Mayor Foulcard iterates that these projects are a testament to his administration’s daily commitment to advance Franklin’s infrastructure and quality of life.