HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 - Items from the Director: Opportunities for art projects at Valmont City Park~^°°` City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department
'~.r Parks Planning and Construction
MEMORANDUM
To: Members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
From: Chris Dropinski, Director of Parks and Recreation
Ken Ramsey, Superintendent of Parks Planning and Construction
Kate Bernhardt, Associate Parks Plauner
Diana Smith and Teresa Grills, City Liaison
Re: Item from the Director: Opportunities for art projects at Valmont City Park
Date: July 11, 2000
In the June 26 meeting, several board members requested more information about opportunities
to include artistic elements, art, or community art projects in the Valmont City Park development.
Phase 1 artistic elements:
"""~ Many park features that might be considered artistic elements aze typically included within the
°r scope of work of the landscape azchitects and pazk planners who are designing the project. Final
design and construction or installation of some of these elements may be performed by
professional craftspeople or artists. For the Valmont City Pazk Phase 1, the Board provided input
on these elements (paving materials, site fumiture, headwall and wingwalls, handrails, signage,
logo, etc.) through its review and advisory recommendation of the proposed design character and
guidelines in the June 26 meeting. Staff will proceed with the detailed design of these eletnents as
part ofPhase 1 design development.
In addition to these elements, staff is proposing that the center panels of the handrail for the
Wonderland Creek Channel underpass be identified as a specific art project. The design and
creation of these panels would provide a very visible art piece £oz people within the park, for
people using the Wonderland Creek Channel tributary trail, and for people viewing the park from
Valmont Road. Artistic rail panels can be welded to preset anchor plates either during or after the
completion of the Wonderland Channel and underpass headwall reconstruction, which allows the
art selection process to pazallel the Wonderland Channel construction process.
Selection Process: The selection process for art installations for pubGc projects varies depending
on the funding source, the size and scope of work, and the public or private agencies involved
with the development. For this Phase 1 artistic effort, staff proposes to work directly with
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members of the Arts Commission and the Pazks and Recreation Advisory Boazd using the
following process: ~
Selection Process:
A committee will be created which includes an equal number of members (two) from the Parks
and Recreation Advisory Board and the Arts Commission, two members of the Pazks and
Recreation park planning staff, two members of the city staffwho work with the Arts
Commission, and one member of the Phase 1 landscape architectural consulting firm" This
committee will identify a suitable list of artists from the Colorado Artists register and will invite
these artists to submit proposals based on specific criteria. Interested artists will submit rough
conceptual plans for their proposals. The committee will select two artists to provide additional
design development for their proposals and the City will provide funding, up to $1,000 per artist
to detail their design. The committee will select the artist based on the detailed design.
There aze other areas for future artistic efforts within Phase 1 including addition of paving or
plaza inserts: i.e. etchings, impressions, sand blasted imagery flagstone inserts, custom metal work
additions to the light poles including banners, and permanent or temporary (on loan) art
installation, etc. The City Liaison will manage the review process, selection, and development of
artistic installations which maybe added to the Phase 1 development area in the future.
Artistic Elements of phases of park development outside of Phase 1:
The remaining 120 acres of Valmont City Park development will provide many opportunities for
installation of art and artistic elements. As stated above, the City Liaison will manage the
development of art elements within the pazk and will meet with the Boazd to confirm the desired "'"~'+
review and selection process. `°"
The following Gst provides some ideas of possible art projects. This list is:faz from conclusive,
bearing in mind that art opportunities are often identified during the design of a specific project.
Dog exercise azea:
• artistic design reflecting a canine theme for :fence, gate, trellis, bench, and/or water
source
• specific art piece: sculpture or other
Community Gardens:
• artistic design reflecting on historic or current farming and gardening themes incorporated
into: a community gazden restroom/storage building, tool equipment storage area, shade
structure, trellis, fence, gate, bench, water source, and/or edible landscape plantings
adjacent to gazdens
• specific art piece: sculpture or other "
Recreation buildings:
• artistic elements incorporated into walkways and plazas, free standing walls, building
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surfacing, signage, windows, metalwork, stonework, etc.
.~ specific art piece or pieces: sculpture or other
Landscaped cul-de-sacs (neaz Platt Farmhouse, ballfields, skateparkl~
• specific art piece: sculpture or other
Platt and Roney Farmhouse development areas
• specialty gazdens incorporating historic palette of landscape plant materials or historic
design of fencing, trellis, bench, gates, etc.
• specific art piece: sculpture or other
Ballfields:
• artistic design reflecting sports / ballplaying theme incorporated into hazd surfacing,
fencing, gates, water source, benches, light fixtures, concessions building
• specific art piece: sculpture or other
Skatepark:
• artistic design reflecting skate theme incorporated into walls, bench, fencing, specialty
benches, etc.
• addition of a graffiti wall
• specific art piece: sculpture or other
Vehicular, pedestrian, bike bridges: a) over Wonderland Creek Channel b) 49's Street over Goose
"^ Creek Channel
`~ artistic elements could include addition of icons, artistic inserts (ceramic, flagstone, other),
images formed or sandblasted into concrete
Future pedestrian underpass:
• artistic elements could include addition of icons, artistic inserts for hazd surfacing or walls
(ceramic, flagstone, other), custom design of overhead window system, custom light
fixtures, etc.
Large children's play azea:
• artistic elements of a playful and child like theme incorporated into fencing, landscaping,
walls, benches, tables, shelters
• specific art piece: sculpture, water play and sculpture, interactive art piece
Irrigation pond:
• artistic elements reflecting irrigation water source or historic water uses could be
incorporated into the design of the pumphouse, walls, fence, bench
• specific art piece, sculpture or other proposed by artist
Hilltop adjacent to jail property, north property line of park:
t'~
The Site Review level design for this azea is very conceptual, however given the
remazkable views of the park, the city, and the foothills from this part of the site, this site -•1
would provide a unique opportunity for more contemplative development with intimate ~-~
and community sitting and viewing azeas, including featured art pieces
Other areas of the site development could include:
• Land form art
Temporary art display:
• space could be provided inside or outside of the recreation buildings for changing art
exhibits
Community art projects:
• Any of the azeas listed above could include a community art project which would be
managed by an artist. .
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