Hermosa Beach young people ranging in age from 6 to 14 will now have a chance to beautify the city through a mural project sponsored by the Hermosa Arts Foundation and funded by telecommunications giant, Tycom LTD.

Last December, the Hermosa Beach City Council approved a 25-year lease agreement with Tycom Networks, allowing the corporation to run a fiber-optic cable under the city’s beach and several streets. As a way of showing its gratitude, Tycom will buy all of the supplies needed and pay the salaries of the two project coordinators so that Hermosa Beach kids may surround its construction site with a giant mural representing the town’s beauty and sense of community.

The idea evolved when Art Foundation Vice President Rick Koenig sat down with two fellow members, Michael Keegan and Jane Stuart, along with a Tycom representative to brainstorm ideas for a project that would involve children from the beach cities.

“Michael (the foundation’s treasurer), Jane (the foundation’s president) and I talked about some ideas, and came up with this one,” said Koenig. “This is a wonderful example of how the Arts Foundation is able to help support the community by giving back to it.”

Tycom also sponsored part of the foundation’s June telethon by donating $10,000 for various scholarships and programs in Hermosa Beach.

Tycom will begin construction on the project at Second Street close to The Strand in the fall.

Hermosa Beach resident P.J. Pauly will act as the art director on the project outlining the mural with images synonymous with Hermosa Beach. Children will then paint the outlined mural with a diverse array of colors.

The mural’s background will comprise three different shades of blue and beige, which will represent the city’s beach. The participants will also color in silhouette outlines of a skateboarder, surfer, volleyball player, a biker and a child flying a kite.

Keegan, who knows Pauly from college, suggested the Art Foundation hire him based on his art education and experience.

“I have a degree in painting and Michael referred me to the group,” Pauly said. “The experience, so far, has been very educational and very fun. I love painting and this has been a great time for me to use some of my skills.”

An estimated 150 kids will participate in the project that began Monday and will end Aug. 23 at South Park, 425 Valley Drive. The mural is expected to be hung Aug. 26 at Tycom’s construction site for six to eight weeks.

Mural coordinator Jessica Hawari recruited the kids for the project from various summer camps like the Hermosa Beach Summer Blast and Teen camps, and the Sea Sprite camp.

“We have kids from many groups in Hermosa Beach,” Hawari said. “This whole project really came together two weeks ago. Everything has been running smoothly and I’m really happy to be a part of this.”

The Arts Foundation hopes to eventually display the mural inside the Hermosa Beach Community Center.

“All of the work put forth by the volunteers and members of the Hermosa Arts Foundation over the last year has been worth it,” said Koenig. “I’m happy that we are now able to use some of the money the foundation has raised on projects for the youth of the beach cities.”