The Ocala Municipal Arts Commission is scheduled to review a proposed art installation designed to commemorate a historic local church that was demolished last year.
The commission’s regular meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at Ocala City Hall, located at 110 SE Watula Avenue. According to the meeting agenda, the board will hear a presentation regarding an update on the Mount Moriah Commemorative Public Art Project.
A rendering of the proposed installation shows a tall, free-standing structure featuring Gothic-style arches and colorful panels that resemble traditional stained-glass windows.
A project schematic indicates that the monument will be placed at the northwest corner of the city’s new parking garage site, situated near the intersection of SW 3rd Avenue and SW Broadway Street.
The public art project is intended to memorialize the former site of the Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, which holds the distinction of being the first Black Baptist church organized in Ocala and Marion County.
The historic structure was demolished in early 2025 to accommodate the expansion of downtown parking facilities. Ground was broken for the new parking garage last year on the property where the church stood for generations.
While the physical building is gone, the city committed during the planning phases to include a dedicated memorial space to honor the congregation’s profound impact on local history.
The city allocated a total budget of $40,000 for the commemorative artwork, sourced directly from the parking garage’s construction budget, and issued a call earlier this year for Florida-based artists to submit design concepts.
The call for commemorative art comes as the Mount Moriah congregation continues its efforts to complete a new sanctuary. The church recently reached out to the community for financial assistance to finish construction on its new building and open its doors to the community.
The new, six-level parking garage is designed to provide over 800 additional parking spaces t0 the downtown area.
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