Fifteen “Fairy Tale Playhouses” Will Make the West Palm Waterfront Feel Like Home
City of West Palm Beach’s “Summer in Paradise” Campaign is Shaping Up with Selection of Artists and Nonprofits
West Palm Beach, Fla. (April 24, 2018) Fifteen child-size playhouses, collectively referred to as the “Fairy Tale Playhouses,” are moving in downtown. To raise awareness of affordable housing while providing entertainment and shade to the smallest of waterfront visitors, the miniature homes carry a meaningful message. Through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, whose mission is to build simple, decent and affordable housing for low to very low-income families around the world, the City of West Palm Beach will continue to include philanthropy in its seasonal “Summer in Paradise” campaign. The unique community element matches Palm Beach County artists with local nonprofits who will come together to build the homes. The artists will then transform the playhouses into unique representations of popular fairy tales. The playhouses will be complete and on display on the Great Lawn of the West Palm Beach waterfront, 101 N. Clematis Street, from Thursday, June 7 through Thursday, July 26, when they will be auctioned off to support the corresponding nonprofits.
“In West Palm Beach, we are putting people and their quality of life at the forefront of not only its design but also everything that we do,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio. “I am so pleased that this year’s ‘Summer in Paradise’ will deliver measurable impact, and — through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County– it continues the community conversation about the need for affordable housing for all.”
The 15 artists and nonprofits were selected through a competitive application process and, once matched, were assigned a fairy tale. The artists will interpret their fairy tale, with stories spanning the globe to reflect Habitat for Humanity’s worldwide reach. Featured fairy tales include “Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox,” from North America; “The Boy and the Dragon,” from Canada; “Rapunzel,” from Germany; “Anasi, and the Turtle: Jamaican Folk Tales,” from Jamaica, as well as many others.
In addition to Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, participating nonprofits include Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc., Autism Speaks, Children Seen and Heard, Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Habilitation Center, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, Police Athletic League of West Palm Beach, Take Heed Theater Company, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County, The Arc of Palm Beach County, The Lord’s Place, Inc., United Way of Palm Beach County, Urban Youth Impact, and Vita Nova, Inc..
Local artists include Steve Brouse, Marcos Conde, Sylvain Copon, Jason Fleurant, Freddy Hennevelt, William Joyner, Jr., Batia Lowenberg, Grace McGann, Craig McInnis, Erick Marquez, Mayling Marquez, Melissa Mastrangelo, Frank Navarrete, Missy Pierce, and Renata Rodrigues.
“We are so pleased with the continued goodwill ‘Summer in Paradise’ is able to bring to the local community,” said Mary Pinak, Community Events Manager for the City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation. “Our response to ‘Aesop’s Tables’ last year was so incredible – we raised more than $11,000 for our local community – so we knew we had to carry on this tradition and do something similar. The ‘Fairy Tale Playhouses’ will not only raise money for our community, much of which will support organizations addressing homelessness and affordable housing, but they will also encourage unity, through their creation, design and display.”
In addition to the “Fairy Tale Playhouses,” guests can take a “sip” of summer with additional waterfront activities, including a “Big Storybook” photo opportunity, with a newly crafted chapter; “StoryVille,” a create your own life-size fable activity; “FlaminGO Croquet,” complete with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme and flamingo mallets; and “Fairy Tale Trivia Tuesdays.” As is summer tradition, the City will expand its Clematis by Night offerings, booking two times the bands and extending entertainment hours to 10 p.m.
The “Fairy Tale Playhouses” will be on display on the West Palm Beach waterfront at 101 N. Clematis Street, West Palm Beach Florida. For more information about “Summer in Paradise,” and other waterfront events, visit wpb.org/events, call 561-822-1515 or follow the City of West Palm Beach on Facebook @CityofWPB and on Twitter and Instagram @westpalmbch.
###
Sponsors-to-date include: Discover the Palm Beaches, The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Daily News, Hilton West Palm Beach, WPBF News 25, 97.9 WRMF, SUNNY 107.9, 103.1 WIRK, X 102.3, Beatz 96.3, News Talk 850 WFTL & 640 The Hurricane Sports Radio, West Palm Beach Marriott, Jet Ride, Jimmy Johns, The Town of Palm Beach, Rhythm and Hues and Related.
About the City of West Palm Beach’s Summer in Paradise:
“Summer in Paradise” is a partnership between the City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation, West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Arts & Entertainment District, Visit Palm Beach, Palm Beach Outlets, SkyBike, Northwood Village, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, Historic Northwest Neighborhood, Northwood Village Main Street, Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, and Magic Garden, to showcase West Palm Beach as an international destination full of events, activities, art, entertainment, shopping, dining and overall fun. “Summer in Paradise” collectively includes two months of events and happenings in the Northwest Neighborhood, Northwood Village and Downtown West Palm Beach from June 7 – July 26.