Flower Mound council approves Medwidiff sculpture for Peters Colony Memorial Park

The Flower Mound Town Council voted unanimously to approve a public art installation for Peters Colony Memorial Park, selecting a corten (weathering) steel sculpture by Medwidiff Forge & Design (John Medwidiff), town staff said at a special meeting.

Travis, a town parks staff member, told the council the selection committee reviewed 20 qualified submissions, narrowed the field to a top five and then a top three before choosing the artist and concept now before the council. The project team said the sculpture is more than 14 feet tall, is designed to present different visual experiences from different approaches, and is intended to complement the park’s memorial function.

Liz Bridal, chair of the Cultural Arts Commission and a member of the selection committee, told the council the committee’s recommendation was unanimous. “This was a completely unanimous choice,” Bridal said, and she emphasized the committee’s focus on durability, maintenance and an artwork that would allow contemplation in a memorial setting.

Public comment included a statement of support from resident Beth Dilley, who spoke during the meeting and praised the artist choice and the town’s effort to create a civic space for art.

Council members raised questions about the piece’s contemporary, abstract style and compared it to earlier public installations, but several members said that after viewing the design and hearing the artist’s rationale they were comfortable with the selection. Staff emphasized that material choice (weathering steel) and maintenance considerations were part of the evaluation.

A motion to approve the Peters Colony Memorial Park public art project (item I‑2) was made, seconded and passed by unanimous roll-call vote. Staff described an expected timeline: a final design submittal in May (for foundation work to start) and installation targeted for completion by December 2026.