With Santa Ana’s homeless out of Civic Center, chalk art is in

On the site where hundreds of homeless set up camps just over a year ago, children plan to bring their colorful chalks and draw on the now cleaned-up Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana.

The inaugural Orange County Chalk and Talk event, scheduled for Aug. 10, will feature local artists, face painting for kids and chalk art workshop for families.

Last year, the plaza next to the Orange County Superior Courthouse was a homeless encampment, replete with tents, barbecues, generators and furniture. That was until county health care workers and nonprofit volunteers helped many of them find alternative shelters and services. (About 135, however, declined services.) Maintenance crews cleaned the plaza and it has been kept clear ever since.

The Heritage Museum’s resident artist plans to guide community members in creating an art mural during the Chalk and Talk program. The free event from 4 to 7 p.m. at Broadway and Santa Ana Boulevard is co-hosted by Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and the Heritage Museum of Orange County.

“Art is a way to strengthen our community and send a powerful message that everyone is welcome in Orange County,” Do said in a statement. “For too long, Santa Ana residents have been afraid to walk around the Civic Center Plaza.

“We’re organizing this event to foster a stronger community spirit, where everyone has access to county services, can enjoy our public spaces and feel included in our community,” Do said.

Parking is available at the Old Orange County Courthouse parking lot, 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.  Community members are asked to RSVP by calling Do’s office at 714-834-3110 or emailing first.district@OCgov.com.