ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager with a Request to Reserve Certain Locations Along WASHINGTON STREET for Use by SCULPTURE WALK PEORIA FOUNDATION for PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS. (District 1)
Body
BACKGROUND: In late 2013, a small group of art supporters, residents, and business people in downtown Peoria began to discuss the creation of a "sculpture walk" in Peoria's Warehouse District. A sculpture walk is an annual, juried, outdoor exhibit utilizing public art spaces. This effort will solicit, select and install original pieces to be installed along three streets (in the first phase) in Downtown and the Warehouse District. The goal of the endeavor is to enhance the appreciation for the arts in Peoria, educate the public about the value of the arts, and enhance the vitality of the pedestrian experience in the area. Many other cities have used the concept as a way of increasing vibrancy in their downtowns, namely Sioux Falls SD (www.sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com), Eau Claire WI (www.sculpturetour.org) and Mankato MN (www.cityartmankato.com/tour).
Sculpture Walk Peoria Foundation, working as a committee under the Arts Partners umbrella has requested the right to install pieces in the City right-of-way. Preliminarily, they have identified 30 separate locations along SW Washington Street between Liberty and Oak Street. The Foundation has created an interactive map of the locations that can be found by following the link below:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zkavmlrzHSKg.ko0B-yHMnwyM
The locations were selected to create a compact, walkable link between Portal (in the roundabout) and the Preston Jackson pieces near the intersection of State and Washington. Many of these spots have already been reserved as "public art" locations and were treated differently in the street improvements design. All the locations have been reviewed by Public Works to ensure no interference with the pedestrian path. The Fo...
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