Commission reviews intern mural plan for Cushing Park concrete pad; estimated material costs $2,177

Staff presented a proposal to activate a 4,600-square-foot concrete pad at Cushing Park with an intern-completed ground mural and play elements.

Presenters said the design would include a four-square court, a bike loop sized to accommodate children’s use, hopscotch and decorative elements such as frogs and grass stencils. The work would rely on approximately six interns each day during the scheduled installation week (the week of July 7). Staff said they plan to prioritize morning work to avoid heat, provide tents and stations, and give interns written instructions for each station.

Staff provided a materials estimate: primer at about $300, paint around $900, stencil sheets and brushes, rollers, and a portable airless paint sprayer (a one-week rental or purchase option cited at roughly $500). The presenter summarized the project total as $2,177 in materials and consumables; no artist fees were included and installation time was listed as staff and intern labor. Presenters said the surface paint has an expected lifecycle of approximately six years under heavy foot traffic and that redos would require new primer/paint rather than simple touch-ups.

Staff said they had coordinated with Parks and Public Works on appropriate paints for outdoor concrete and would seek to borrow or use existing equipment where feasible. The presenter noted prior temporary surfaces in parks were intended as short-term treatments and that a durable tennis-court-type paint would extend longevity. Staff invited suggestions about striping equipment and volunteered to practice with Public Works equipment before the installation schedule.

No formal commission vote was recorded in the meeting minutes; staff presented the plan for commission awareness and implementation coordination with parks staff.