Florida’s street art fight has moved to a new front: storm drains.
At least four storm drains – three on city streets – that were decorated with murals in 2016 were painted white by the Florida Department of Transportation, Orlando officials confirmed.
The city had painted drains since 2016, when it launched an “Only Rain Down the Drain” campaign in the Mills 50 district. The campaign encouraged residents to not throw trash down the drains used to remove rain water from streets and into lakes.
“It’s ridiculous,” said City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, whose district includes Mills 50. “This is destroying public art for the sake of destroying public art.”
The whiteout of the drains marks the latest pain point in Orlando in recent weeks when it comes to murals and street art. About two weeks ago, FDOT overnight dispatched crews to cover up the rainbow crosswalk on Orange Avenue and Esther Street, which they contended violated new state rules on asphalt art.
Like with the storm drains, the city received no prior warning that the work would be done.
The following day, a city official received a letter from FDOT district secretary John Tyler, informing him that 18 crosswalks and markings were in violation of the rules and must be covered by Sept. 4.
City crews began work last week covering up 14 such murals and markings. The other four were found to be on state roads and required FDOT action. By Thursday, the state-imposed deadline, a city spokesperson confirmed all had been removed.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state leaders have contended that all street art must be removed, regardless of its message. It’s unclear why FDOT painted the storm drains white, even on city operated roads outside of its jurisdiction.
The four drains are at Summerlin Avenue and Central Boulevard, Marks Street and Mills Avenue, Summerlin Avenue and Park Lake Street and Church Street and Eola Drive.
The agency didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
