City staff and Arts Commission recommend Bernard Hosey sculpture at Trailhead Park near Badger Mountain

City staff and the Arts Commission told the Richland Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 11 that they recommend placing a donated Bernard Hosey steel sculpture at Trailhead Park, near the trail entry and oriented toward the Badger Mountain summit.

Director Waite reviewed the history: Judith Shulman offered pieces from the late sculptor Bernard Hosey’s collection, and the city accepted three sculptures that were placed previously at Lee Landing, Howard Amon Park and in front of the Richland Public Library. The remaining piece has been in city storage pending placement.

Staff and Arts Commission members said they evaluated several candidate parks — Claypole Park, West Village Park, Trailhead Park and Badger Mountain Community Park — and ruled out locations where a large industrial-scale sculpture would either dominate a small neighborhood park or clash with concentrated amenities. Trailhead Park emerged as the preferred site because the sculpture would be prominent, would create a south-side civic anchor to match the two existing pieces, and could be sited outside the natural-area portion and away from the native-plant garden.

Waite said staff met with Friends of Badger Mountain and representatives of the Native Plant Society; those partners’ primary concerns were alleviated after staff agreed to avoid placing the piece in the natural area. Friends of Badger Mountain indicated they would not oppose the revised placement, Parks staff said. One community member spoke at the Jan. 2025 site visit in support of Trailhead placement.

Staff and the Arts Commission recommended adding an interpretive plaque explaining the donation and Bernard Hosey’s background and linking the piece to the other two city locations. Staff noted the sculpture will sit on a concrete base, that irrigation will be rerouted to avoid hard water spraying the artwork, that the city will refresh an existing cost estimate before installation, and that actual installation is likely in spring once weather and contractor windows allow.

Commissioner Bilt praised the recommendation and specifically supported the interpretive sign as a way to tie the pieces together and explain the artist’s work.

Staff said they will update city council with the recommendation and finalize installation logistics, including a refreshed contractor quote and inspection of the sculpture currently stored in the city laydown yard.