FORT LAUDERDALE — A neighborhood mural that sprang to life in River Oaks without the required city approvals might get to stay after all.
Normally, public murals require commission approval and vetting by the city’s Public Art and Placement Advisory Board.
Ted Inserra, president of the River Oaks Civic Association, admits to jumping the gun and ignoring that process in a rush to beautify an area left barren after mangroves were chopped down.
The trees were removed months ago as part of a major drainage project. In their place, two safety walls were erected at the corner of Southwest 20 Street and Coconut Drive to keep cars from driving into the canal below, city officials say.
In mid-February, local artist Linkie Marais painted a mural of a vivid green forest on the northern wall.
On Monday, Inserra appeared before the public art board to plead his case.
“It was just a cement wall — imagine that,” Inserra told the board. “That corner is like the heart of River Oaks. And to see what was happening to this creek was kind of heartbreaking. We wanted to do something nice.”
After hearing from Inserra, the board agreed to recommend that city commissioners grant the mural retroactive approval.
“We’re not here to take away a mural,” said Joshua Carden, Fort Lauderdale’s Cultural Affairs Officer. “We’re here to retroactively make it right.”
Inserra got this advice from Martha Gutiérrez Steinkamp, the board’s vice chair: “When you leave here, know we are on your side. We just want it to follow the process.”
Before heading out, Inserra apologized to the board.
“I have the tendency to pull the trigger sometimes,” he said.
The commission is expected to vote on the matter in the coming weeks.
Warren Sturman, the district commissioner, could not be reached for comment.
Commissioner Steve Glassman says he’s hoping the mural can be approved retroactively, but he’s just one of five people who will decide.
“While I appreciate the enthusiasm of the neighborhood, there is a process to follow,” Glassman said. “It’s not just, ‘Let’s paint a wall.’ Does it need to be primed? Was it sealed properly? Hopefully we can figure all this out.”
Inserra says he hopes to get commission approval to paint a mural on the second wall too.
Despite all the trouble, Inserra says he has no regrets.
“I’m not the first one in my family to be active in the community and get things done,” he said. “My dad would have done the same thing.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan