Davie council approves two painted‑horse public art designs, directs locations study

The Davie Town Council on May 21 directed staff to move forward with two painted‑horse public art designs and to return with location recommendations. The public art advisory committee previously shortlisted ten designs; council members selected public locations for the first two currently completed pieces and asked staff to continue with additional horses in future phases.

Jeff Pullman, director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, said the initial painted horses will be displayed at town‑owned parks with the goal of placing ten horses across Davie. Council reached consensus to place the first completed horse by artist Linda DeVita at Robins Park (near the gazebo/photo‑op area) and asked staff to consider Flamingo Road/Al Lookout Park or the Flamingo Gardens area for the second completed horse by Elise Helpman.

Council also reviewed two additional designs that incorporate Seminole tribal imagery. Pullman said one of those designs had been approved in concept by the Seminole tribe after revisions; the second design was pending tribal approval. Council instructed staff to finalize agreements with the artists and the tribe and return with final designs and recommended installation sites. Pullman described installation plans as a concrete pad with a decorative split‑rail fence around each horse to discourage climbing while allowing close public viewing and photography.

Council members discussed longevity and maintenance; staff said each sculpture receives a UV protective coating and estimated a practical display lifespan of approximately five to seven years before major restoration would be needed. The council’s public art committee will rank and vet the remaining designs and develop the next call for submissions once locations and designs for the initial horses are finalized.