Park commission approves placement of two large sculptures at Riverside and River Shores

The Park and Recreation Commission on July 25 approved locations for two large sculptures offered to the city by West Bend Friends of Sculpture, voting to place a 15-foot horizontal work behind the Riverside Park tennis courts and a 14.5-foot vertical piece in the River Shores triangle.

The commission’s vote follows several minutes of site review and discussion of logistics including engineering, utility clearance, footings, crane needs and a required final review by the Common Council. Michelle Mass, representative of West Bend Friends of Sculpture, said the works were decommissioned from a sculpture park in Eau Claire and called both pieces "exceptional." "These two pieces are exceptional," Mass said. "They're pretty massive pieces." The taller piece was identified in the presentation as Ribbon by artist Steven Fisher.

Why it matters: the placements add large-scale public art in two high-foot-traffic riverfront locations and extend the city’s Riverwalk art collection. City staff told the commission that development engineering, utilities and field operations have reviewed the proposed sites and generally support the placements provided standard utility and sight-line checks are completed.

Details: the horizontal piece (referred to in the presentation as Rib Mountain) would sit near the playground area behind the tennis courts at Riverside Park; the vertical Ribbon piece would sit in the smaller of two triangles at River Shores between Veterans Street and Village Greenway. Mass told commissioners the River Shores triangle is city property but is maintained by the Hendricks Group under an older developer agreement; the Friends have contacted the property manager and were awaiting written confirmation of support. Mass also said the two works are being offered on a five-year loan and that installation for both sculptures will cost more than $10,000 because of crane and footing requirements.

City staff noted some long-term site ideas and engineering constraints elsewhere in the river corridor: the South Roundabout has underground utilities and signage constraints; future installations may require steel plate solutions or smaller footings to avoid utilities. Staff identified Max Miracao, city engineer, and development engineering as reviewers who have surveyed potential large sites and will be involved in detailed fit and placement analysis.

Decision and next steps: the commission moved and seconded a motion to approve the two sculpture locations. Commissioners recorded vocal assent and the motion was carried. Staff said the Parks Department and West Bend Friends of Sculpture will assemble funds for engineering, design concrete footings and arrange crane work with the aim of installing the pieces in late fall. The commission also discussed other possible public-art projects — including work by artist Jessica K. Bodner and a kayak-launch feature on the Riverwalk — as planning items for future meetings, but made no decisions on those items at this session.

The commission’s approval is an initial placement decision; the presentation noted that any final placement still requires administrative coordination, possible Common Council review and formal permitting or easement clearance if utilities or private maintenance agreements affect a site.