Asbury Park was in full summer mode last weekend.

The beach is starting to get crowded again, the boardwalk was lively with people in and out of the new upscale shops and eateries, the Casino at the south end of town has a bright shining roof, and at Convention Hall almost all the new stores and bars are finally open.

The huge Esperanza condo project is still on hold — but that’s more due to the general economic downturn than any problem specific to Asbury. For this Shore town, it may be the most hopeful summer in years.

But Asbury Park still needs healing, after decades of neglect and redevelopment schemes that went nowhere. And healing is what artist Laura Brunetti wants to bring.

This past Sunday she was out on the boardwalk right next to the Casino with her paints and crayons and brushes and paper, encouraging kids who stopped by to draw, paint, sculpt.

Brunetti, who works out of L’Estrella Studio in Colts Neck, calls it the project Traveling Canvas, and plans to return most Sundays. She has a similar project at the library in Keansburg, another faded resort town but so far less able than Asbury to bounce back.

 “I hope to bring out self expression not only for recreation, but for healing and mending purposes,” she says. “When it comes to bullying, or kids in trouble, art can help.”

Brunetti describes herself as “an artist and philanthropist.” You can acquire one of her works by making a donation to one of her favorite charities, which include the Mercy Center in Asbury Park and the Thomas Peterpaul Foundation in Chatham, which helps kids with cancer.

The Traveling Canvas is being supported by the local arts group ArtsCAP, developer Madison Marquette, and the City of Asbury Park.