Secret Garden Tour donates mosaic seating installation to Horizon View Park

Lake Forest Park — The Lake Forest Park Secret Garden Tour committee announced a donated public-art installation titled "Nature's Repose" for Horizon View Park and plans to present the donation to the City Council this week.

Ross (representing the Secret Garden Tour) said the committee selected Spokane-based artist Melissa Cole after an RFQ process and that Cole produced a maquette and installation plan. "She's calling it Nature's Repose. It's a sculptural interactive seating proposal specifically designed to be installed within the boundaries of Horizon View Park," Ross said.

The design includes two concrete benches flanking two steel sculptures: a fern frond with a western swallowtail butterfly and a native bleeding-heart flower with a western bumblebee. The back of the bench will feature mosaics of animals (raccoon, fish, owl, bird, rabbit and salmon) that the artist proposes to involve the community in creating. Ross said the benches are currently designed at about 6 feet long (the team may reduce them to 5 feet); the fern sculpture would reach roughly 8 feet high. The planned pad was described as as much as 12 feet by 6 feet but could be adjusted to meet accessibility requirements.

The committee told the board the preferred site is a small knoll north of the playground, between the swings and the path, but staff from Public Works must confirm whether the location meets slope and accessibility standards. Ross said the committee expects to finalize site placement and work with city staff on pad size and accessibility; "we may have to move the location to something a little more level and more accessible," he said.

Ross said the metal elements will be painted and sealed with heavy-duty coatings and that the concrete bench surfaces will be colored concrete stain rather than painted. The artist plans to install the mosaics on mesh she prepares with organized community workshops; Ross described the mosaic component as an intentionally community-driven part of the project.

The artwork is a donation from the Secret Garden Tour; Ross said he will bring the proposal and donation information to the city council on Thursday. The committee hopes to install the piece in summer 2025 but acknowledged the schedule could slip into September depending on site work and permitting.

Nut graf: The proposed installation would add permanent, interactive public seating and local public art to Horizon View Park, provided the city approves a site that meets accessibility requirements. The project combines a donated construction budget, professional fabrication and community-built mosaic elements; final placement, pad dimensions and a maintenance plan will be confirmed with city staff before installation.

The Secret Garden Tour committee described a selection process that began with an RFQ; Ross said 11 artists applied, three were interviewed and Melissa Cole was selected for the project's "wow factor" and experience with large-scale mosaics. The committee includes garden-tour volunteers and representatives from Charlotte Arts and city staff; the artist will submit a maintenance plan as part of her final paperwork.

Committee members discussed outreach and events tied to the work: Ross said the artist and volunteers plan a public mosaic day (timing to be set) and that the project will be promoted at the garden tour (June 14) and at the city tree walk event on April 27. The Secret Garden Tour funds the piece and will donate it to the city; Ross said Charlotte Arts will help promote community workshops.

Concerns raised during the meeting focused on site slope and handicapped access. City staff will need to evaluate the proposed knoll site and confirm the pad dimensions and any grading or accessible route that would be required. The committee said they will work with Public Works and city staff on those elements before moving forward.

Ending: The committee plans to present formal donation paperwork to the City Council this week and to continue working with Public Works on site confirmation. If the city approves the final location and pad, the committee aims to install the work during the 2025 construction season and hold community mosaic workshops afterward.