wUNTINGTON BEACH CIVIC CENTER (Orange County Tribune photo).
By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune
A request by Councilmember Andrew Gruel to stop plans to hold a planned electronic “Symphony of Flowers” exhibit in Central Park passed unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council.
“Feedback from residents has consistently reflected concerns that the event did not capture the character of Huntington Beach or provide the type of seasonal experience residents value,” Gruel wrote in a report to the council.
He added, “In light of current budgetary constraints and the need to focus on core services, it is appropriate to sunset the ‘Symphony of Flowers’ and free resources for programs that better serve the community.”
When the proposal was first presented to the council, it drew some criticism from residents that it could risk environmental damage to the park, including dislocation of wildlife. Supporters argued it would bring more tourism and tax revenue to the city.
The proposal from Flowers in the Sky LLC, called “The Symphony of Flowers,” called for a “temporary multi-media show comprised of over 100,000 luminous flowers including roses, tulips and lilies” that would be choreographed to symphonic music.
Temporary bleachers would be erected to accommodate as many as 2,062 seats – about half the capacity of a high school football stadium.
The entire project would have taken up about 200,000 square feet and the “Symphony” would have operated from dusk to 11 p.m. with up to four paid shows per evening for about six months.
The Protect HB group in March filed a lawsuit to block the “Symphony of Flowers.”
