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Council selects swallowtail butterfly icon and design preferences for Morrisville public art
Summary
Council approved the swallowtail butterfly as the town’s ICON initiative form of inspiration, favored broad (flat) wings for artist canvas and an artistic base (cost‑sensitive). Staff will finalize fabricator contracts, release artist applications, and return with 3‑D models and site recommendations for installations in spring/early summer.
Council picked design details for Morrisville’s ICON public art program on Feb. 24, choosing the swallowtail butterfly as the town icon and directing staff to proceed with fabrication, artist selection and site priority work.
Planning Manager Britney Johnson walked council through the multi‑step ICON process, noting the town selected a butterfly motif and staff had researched species and form. Councilmembers favored broad wings (a majority vote) because the flatter surface creates more usable canvas for artists, and they expressed a preference for an artistic base if additional cost is reasonable.
Staff said the next steps are finalizing a fabricator contract, releasing an artist application, reviewing submissions with the parks and cultural resources advisory committee, and returning to council with 3‑D drafts and recommended installation locations (staff suggested starting with 4–5 high‑traffic sites such as town center, community park and Church Street Park). Council asked for at least one design location that maximizes visibility and suggested including interpretive information about the butterfly and its local importance.
Outcome: staff will present 3‑D models in an administrative report in March or April and then proceed with artist selection and site prioritization.
