Patriotic hydrant painting project in Fort Walton Beach heads from concept to reality
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – A public art project with a patriotic theme is set to take shape across key corridors in Fort Walton Beach, after city officials selected a local artist to lead the effort ahead of next year’s major national milestone.
The City of Fort Walton Beach announced that Andrew Wargo has been chosen for the Fort Walton Beach CRA’s Patriotic Fire Hydrant Painting Project. His proposal stood out among three submissions and was ultimately selected by residents during the March 2026 CRA Citizens’ Input Meeting, giving the community a direct role in shaping the look of the upcoming project.
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City leaders said the decision was not an easy one.
“It was a very difficult choice,” said CRA Administrator Alisa Burleson, noting that all three artists submitted high-quality designs.
“We felt that Andrew’s clean, simple designs best conveyed the patriotic intent of the project.”
For many people in Fort Walton Beach, Wargo’s work is already a familiar part of the local landscape. His past projects include a mural on the wall of the old Bluewater Zoo building, as well as one of the storm drain murals on the south side of U.S. Highway 98. That existing presence in the area helped frame him as an artist with a visible connection to the city’s public spaces.
Now, his attention will turn to a new canvas that is both unusual and highly visible. Wargo is expected to begin work soon, painting 25 fire hydrants located within the CRA District. The hydrants are positioned along U.S. Highway 98, Beal Parkway, and Eglin Parkway, meaning the project will stretch across some of the city’s most recognizable travel routes.
The timing of the effort adds another layer of meaning. Officials expect the hydrant paintings to be completed before the nation marks its 250th birthday on July 4, giving the project a clear civic purpose as well as a visual one. Rather than serving only as decorative accents, the painted hydrants are intended to reflect a broader patriotic spirit tied to that milestone celebration.
With the artist now selected and work expected to begin soon, the project is moving from concept to reality. In the coming weeks, residents and visitors alike can expect to see ordinary pieces of streetside infrastructure transformed into small but noticeable symbols of community pride, local creativity, and national remembrance.
