Redondo Beach Council OKs $275,000 ‘Gateway’ sculpture for Gateway Parkette

The Redondo Beach City Council unanimously approved a contract on Tuesday to commission an artwork titled Gateway for the Gateway Parkette, authorizing up to $275,000 for fabrication, materials and installation. The city said the project will be funded from the John Parsons Public Art Fund.

City Cultural Arts Manager Jack Meyer and Community Services Director Elizabeth House told the council the project was selected more than a decade ago and resurfaced when the transit‑center location changed. “By 2021 the council allocated additional funding and directed staff to pursue a new public location,” Meyer said, describing materials (mostly aluminum with stainless‑steel anchorage) and a roughly four‑month fabrication timeline. Staff recommended a June 2026 dedication date if the council approved the contract.

Council members asked technical questions about durability in a coastal environment and about nearby site improvements. Meyer said the design includes isolating dissimilar metals to reduce galvanic corrosion and that stainless steel would be limited primarily to anchor points while the main visible pieces would be aluminum. Following public comment both in person and by phone that raised questions about maintenance and fund sources, Mayor Light called the motion. The vote to approve the agreement with the selected artist and the vendor’s LLC was unanimous.

The contract’s not‑to‑exceed total covers artist fees, fabrication, materials and contingency. Staff said the John Parsons Public Art Fund was established to support projects of this type and has dedicated funding from developer fees.

What’s next: Staff will finalize engineering documents and submit permit applications; fabrication would begin after permits are approved. The council directed staff to return with any recommended site adjustments and with the finalized contract documents for record.