Art Park is outside to the north of the library shaded by old oak trees. The Park has benches and picnic tables and some are painted with scenes of Florida wildlife native to the area.

A new artistic showcase called the Art Park is opening in downtown Safety Harbor, featuring three benches and two picnic tables painted by an artist. It's on the north side of the Safety Harbor Public Library near the large Elf Tree, an oak estimated to be more than 200 years old. On the other side of the library is another large oak that park officials say is even older.

Silas Beach has been doing this kind of artwork for more than 20 years. He started by painting a mural in a bathroom at Frenchy's first restaurant in Clearwater Beach. He also painted the stools, tables and murals at the restaurant.

Beach applied that same concept to the picnic tables and benches, which bear colorful images of birds, plants and hibiscuses.

Painting on picnic tables and benches is different from painting on canvas, Beach said. Although there may only be a few pieces of equipment, it felt like painting 30 different sections. He painted the pieces separately using blocks in which the separation of the wood would occur to make sure the art flowed.

Art Park

101 2nd Street North

Safety Harbor, FL 34695

Phone: (727) 724-1558

• City of Safety Harbor Parks Website Link
• Safety Harbor Art Park Restoration by Silas Beach Website Link