Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/09/2025

Home

something about the community as an extension of the people that live there. It also makes a statement to visitors about what the community is like. While the city would still be a strong community and be able to tell their story without public art, he says, public art is a significant help. Public art in the community is part of a recreational trail corridor that includes an exercise loop with public art as a park amenity. The public art provides a sense of place for this public space. The amenity allows people to encounter other people and provides a place for "community to happen." The art-walk in the park and the art in downtown provide a way to connect these to different parts of the city. The displays in downtown include an historic walk that helps tell the city's story. He believes that one of the strongest rationales for public art is that it allows community members to express what is important to them. In some cases, it is a chance for people disagree and talk about things that normally wouldn't be talked about, such as a prominent sculpture at the entry to the city that many people in the community didn't like. In general, he believes that the community supports public art and appreciates it. However, he noted that the community is fiscally conservative and many people do not support tax dollars going toward anything but basic necessities of government. He believes that the public has an awareness of public art in the community although most people are not fully aware of the city's public art policy. The public benefits of public art include the visual result and the process of displaying elements that are important to the community. As time goes by, he said, the art creates a"reflection point" for the community in regard to "where we come from, who we are, and where we want to go." He believes that community has achieved many of these benefits but has a long way to go. Those that benefit from public art are primarily the community as a whole. In addition, local artists benefit by getting opportunities to create art and by having a platform to display their work. He believes that over time, public art will continue to play a part 106