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Main Street Marshfield presents plan for downtown sculpture trail; board to consider right-of-way permission later
Summary
Main Street Marshfield presented a proposed downtown sculpture trail — mapped block-by-block — to the Board of Public Works on Feb. 12, 2026. The project, funded in part by an earlier donation, is informational tonight; staff said placements and mounting options will return for right-of-way approval.
Main Street Marshfield representatives on Feb. 12 presented a block-by-block plan to place dozens of small sculptures across downtown Marshfield to boost foot traffic and link the collection to local businesses.
Jenna Hanson, chair of Main Street Marshfield’s design committee, said the group has worked for several years on site selection and logistics, including ADA compliance, winter snow removal and theft prevention. “We were fortunate enough to get a donation, I would say maybe 2 or 3 years ago, to purchase sculptures,” Hanson said, describing the committee’s emphasis on safety and sustainability.
Vicky Tracy, who also serves on the design committee and owns Uptown Coffee, walked the board through proposed placements by block — naming locations such as the 100 block (near the former Domino’s corner), Wenzel Plaza (200 block), the 400–500 blocks near Rogers Cinema and City Hall, the 600 block’s brickwork area, Stroman Park and the 700–800 blocks. Tracy confirmed the pieces shown in the presentation are owned by Main Street and said some private business owners might agree to host pieces if asked.
Carter, director of Main Street, said the organization plans to update its website with a digital map and walking tour to drive visits to downtown businesses and to link sculptures to a business directory. “One thing that I wanna do is update our website,” Carter said, adding a digital tour could help visitors find stores and restaurants while viewing the art.
Board members welcomed the idea as a potential weekend destination but raised safety questions. Board member Andrew said some pictured sculptures appeared low to the ground and could create hazards for young children, urging the team to consider mounting heights and edge treatments to reduce risk.
City staff described the item as informational; Main Street will continue working with staff on specific placement and mounting options and will return to the board for permission to place artworks in the right-of-way when site plans and mounting methods are finalized.
