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Local artist proposes "street trains on parade" to boost Tomball tourism and support artists
Summary
Artist Eric Simon pitched a public-art program of fiberglass, painted 'street trains' to be displayed across Tomball, sold or sponsored by local businesses and auctioned to benefit artists and nonprofits; council praised the idea but asked staff to examine funding, procurement and liability issues.
TOMBALL, Texas — A local artist proposed a public-art program for Tomball Tuesday that would place painted fiberglass "street trains" throughout the city as a tourist attraction and fundraiser for artists and nonprofits.
Eric Simon told the City Council he envisions 5-foot fiberglass train sculptures painted by local artists and secured on concrete bases so they are not stolen. “I call it street trains on parade,” Simon said, citing food-and-art programs in other cities as models. He referenced Chicago’s cows and New Orleans’ Festival of Fins as examples of scale and community benefit.
Simon said the Tomball Art League would coordinate a call for artists; his goal was an initial run of roughly 50 units (he said 50–100 had been discussed) and local fabrication by Northwest Fiberglass. He suggested that businesses could purchase or sponsor pieces that would sit in front of their storefronts or that selected units could be placed in public spaces. Proceeds from auctions would be shared between participating artists and local nonprofits.
Council members asked practical questions about procurement, liability, siting and how to apply for the city’s hot-fund reimbursements. Simon said funding is typically reimbursement-based under the hot-fund rules and that he was awaiting a mold quote from Danny Miller at Northwest Fiberglass.
No formal city funding or policy decision was made; council and staff asked the presenter to return with vendor quotes, a clearer funding approach and legal/procurement guidance before advancing implementation.
