CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater residents gathered to participate in a community mural after months of planning.

Residents have put their lives on pause to pick up paint brushes and rollers for the mural that now graces the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Woodlawn Street in the Lake Belleview area of Clearwater.

The artwork is best described as a labor of love that was a year in the making.

“It’s our community. We have to show pride in it,” said Valerie Ingram Hinkley, Lake Belleview Neighborhood Association President.

“We really wanted to reinvigorate this neighborhood. It’s been seeing just a little bit of blight creeping up so we’re taking the opportunity to correct it,” said Maranda Douglas, executive director of FYI Community Partnerships

Douglas’ organization partnered with the city of Clearwater to help turn that around, resulting in the creation of this mural.

“They wanted some engagement projects and also some beautification projects so we worked to bring these projects to life,” Douglas continued.

Kumpa Tawornprom was commissioned to create the artwork for the mural.

The image includes a heart, hands interlocked and a peace sign. The theme is peace, love and harmony.

“We talked to the community, we had meetings and they agreed with that,” said Tawornprom.

After nine hours of painting, organizers couldn’t be happier with the end result.

The intersection will remain closed to traffic while the paint on this mural dries.

Another mural will be painted not too far from the new one before the end of the year.