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Artist proposes 'street trains' public-art campaign to boost Tomball tourism
Summary
Artist Eric Simon pitched 'street trains on parade,' a fiberglass public-art program modeled on citywide sculpture campaigns. The council asked staff to vet funding rules, liability and procurement before moving toward implementation.
Eric Simon, a local artist, proposed a public-art program called "street trains on parade" at the Tomball City Council meeting Dec. 1, saying the campaign could raise money for artists and nonprofits and attract visitors to Old Town.
Simon described plans to produce 5-foot fiberglass train sculptures painted by local artists and mounted on concrete bases to deter theft. He said the model mirrors other civic art campaigns — cows in Chicago, pelicans in Seabrook and fiberglass fish in New Orleans — where painted sculptures were auctioned to benefit artists and community groups. "These street trains would be painted by local artists, and they would be then gathered and auctioned off," Simon said, describing a projected 50 to 100 participating artists and auction returns that could generate "tens of thousands" in shared revenue.
City staff and council members pressed for operational and legal details. David (city staff) and others said questions remain about where the sculptures would be placed, whether they could sit on private property or in public spaces, and how any use of public funds would fit procurement and HOT-fund reimbursement rules. "If council wants to explore this further, my recommendation would be that we really need to look in-depth about more of the operational side," David said, urging legal review and clear guidelines for property owners and procurement if public funds are involved.
Simon identified a local fabricator, Danny Miller of Northwest Fiberglass, and said he was awaiting a quote to create the original mold. He suggested starting with a batch of about 50 trains, then scaling based on participation and demand. Council members also asked about liability and placement; Simon said the originals would be mounted on concrete bases and could be engineered for photo opportunities but would not be suitable as vehicle barriers unless cast in concrete.
The council did not take action on the concept. Staff said they will research funding eligibility and procurement implications and return with operational options and legal guidance before any funding or formal program approval.
