A new path to kindness in Florence

A project by student Bryce Fisher has helped reform the pathway to a monument in Florence Community Park with an important message: kindness.

The park, which lies near Salado Creek just off Farm to Market Road 970, contains a monument created five years ago by stone carver Matthew Johnson. Constructed from limestone, the obelisk stands 22 feet tall and showcases the message “It’s Chaos Be Kind,” inspired by Michelle McNamara, wife of actor Patton Oswald.

“I had just watched a documentary with her, and that message really stuck with me,” Mr. Johnson said. “These are chaotic times, kindness may be our only reason for hope.”

Mr. Johnson initially thought to make the statue a personal art piece for his garden, but said he felt the message needed to be bigger — 20 feet bigger. He began a Kickstarter campaign to fund the work’s construction and raised about $20,000 for materials and installation.

HavingknownFlorenceMayorMaryCondon,hepitchedhertheidea tomakethemonumentforthecity.Fromthere,hewenttocitycouncil for support. In 2018, the statue was installed in the community park.

However, shortly after it was installed, flooding from Salado Creek washed out the path to the monument.

This caught the eye of Bryce Fisher, who is currently taking a gap year after graduation to serve as the Texas Future Farmers of America First Vice President. His year has been filled with traveling the state, visiting three schools a day to encourage students to participate in FFA and sustainable agriculture.

Mr. Fisher proposed a clean up of the site that included rebuilding the path and creating an area dedicated to comfort people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

“When I was told what Bryce was doing, it was really exciting,” Mr. Johnsson said. “It’s every artists’ dream to do something that seeds community engagement. To have someone young and so full of potential pick up an idea I seeded four years ago is really rewarding.”

Mr. Johnson said he is thrilled people can more readily view the statue and be inspired by the message.

“There’s no greater feedback for an artist than to have their work reflected back at them,” he said. “The idea that this conversation is alive and ongoing, not just a statue ... it’s really nice to have that experience.”

Ms. Condon is happy residents can walk to the statue once more. “This really is a wonderful project,” she said. “We are proud to have it in our Community Park.”