Historic Landmarks Commission requests more community input on Ortega Park murals
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Wednesday s two hour long Zoom session debating the cultural and historical merit of more than a dozen murals in Ortega Park ended without a final decision and a push for more community input.
Staff with the Parks and Recreation Department presented their Mural Evaluation Report to the City s Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC), which broke down costs to relocate, demolish and reproduce the artwork.
The report was prepared by Site and Studio Conservation, LLC (S&S) based in Ventura. The commission received letters against the destruction of the murals and public comments echoing to the commission not to accept the City s recommendations. A major theme was more community input, said Mark Alvarado, in an email.