Members of the New Port Richey Cultural Affairs want to spruce up Cavalaire Square in downtown New Port Richey.

Not only do they want to clean it up, they want to see it used.

On Aug. 7, they held a Yoga Happy Hour fundraiser to support thier efforts to beautify the square.

Cavalaire Square, tucked away on Missouri Avenue just east of the intersection of Missouri and Grand Blvd., was created to honor New Port Richey’s relationship with its sister city of Cavalaire-sur-Mer in France.

But many folks don’t know it exists, and it has fallen into disrepair.

The Cultural Affairs committee, a citizen advisory board, wants the square to be a gathering place.

“Really, we just want to get people out in the community interacting with each other,” said Derek Smith, Chairman of the Cultural Affairs committee, which is

 Smith said he also “wants people to care about the city and keep it looking good.”

On July 21, volunteers with the committee planted new Drake Elms  aad Dune sunflowers at the square and laid down new beds of seashell mulch..  The city Public Works department ripped out overgrowth before that and repaired water and electrical services before then.

The square cleanup is the first part of the committee’s Cultural Restoration Initiative that will spruce up sites in the city.

The Yoga Happy Hour, led by instructor Jackie Loudakis, raised $117 and 2 Target gift cards, said committee member Lia Gallegos. Participation in the Happy Hour was free, but the committee accepted donations.

The committtee will use the money raised to string lights in the square. There’s still more to do, as well.

They are thinking of planning more fundraisers. Should you want to donate to the effort  to revitalize the square in the meantime, you  drop a check by the City Clerk's office with a note about it being a donation for Cavalaire Square, 5919 Main St, New Port Richey.

Here’s the list of what the committee further wants to do to spruce up the square.

• Concrete staining of fountain “stage area”, main square also if $ allows
• Replace broken brick border in main square area
• Repair aging mortar in the fountain and leaks
• Lighting – permanent “street lamp” fixtures as well as decorative string bulb lights
• Shade sails
• Painting the back wall of the building behind the sculpture
• Black metal signage, 1920’s design, explaining the Sister City connection and history of the square as well as directional signs on Grand Blvd.