On May 31, 1988, the Town of Camp Verde dedicated the land at the corner of Main and S. First streets as Hallett Plaza in honor of local schoolteacher Margaret Wingfield-Hallett. As an advocate of historical preservation and growing the Camp Verde community, Hallett sought to make Main Street a gathering place for Camp Verde families.
“Come stay. Make a living,” Hallett was fond of saying.
For the 31st anniversary of the plaza, the town of Camp Verde is now seeking to fulfill even more of Hallett’s vision with a refurbished version of the plaza, designed by volunteer landscaper Christine McPhail, who also serves on the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission. In May, the town is fundraising for the project by offering the chance for Camp Verde resi- dents to put their name on bricks laid into the ground in the new version of Hallett Plaza.
“Donate $50 for an individual engraved brick or $250 for a corporate logo brick for the Hallett Plaza 31st anniversary,” the town wrote in a press release. “All proceeds will fund the mosaic-tile mural for the plaza walls.”
At 8 a.m. on May 31, the town will be holding a celebration featuring art and music and the project for the future.
Renovating Hallett Plaza is the latest part of an effort by the Camp Verde government to encourage public art in Main Street. Earlier this year, the town had a mural painted on the wall of Thanks-A-Latte, with the theme “Camp Verde Grows.”
The refurbishment of Hallett Plaza will come with its own mural following up on that one. Rebecca Murray, Gaylene Allen and Lynnette Kovacovich, three local artists, are in the process of planning for the upcoming mural.
According to Lindsey Zapata, who works in digital marketing for the Camp Verde government, the mural will focus on showcasing both the past and the future of the town in accordance with Hallett’s vision of Camp Verde and will be designed for viewing by both pedes- trians and passing drivers.
“She wanted a thriving Camp Verde,” Zapata said of Hallett. “She wanted to make a place where families would stay and raise their own families. She was a teacher, so I think it was her dream to see the kids that she taught influence Camp Verde to become the home that they wanted. Margaret Hallett wanted a thriving Camp Verde.”
In addition to the bricks and the mural, the planned restoration will replace the wooden benches in the plaza, include a public sculpture installation and add electrical wiring which will allow the location to be used for outdoor live music and events.
“The whole idea is to have this little corner of Main Street be a community art gathering space, a place where organic cooperation can come from,” Zapata said.
In addition to the engraved brick fundraising, money for the renovation will come from grants from outside foundations, some funding from the town government, and hope- fully donations from local businesses and residents. Zapata said that the town has been happy to see the level of support the town of Camp Verde already has.
“There’s genuine excitement for public art from the community,” Zapata said.
If everything goes according to plan, the refurbished plaza should be ready by Fort Verde Days in the fall.
