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Commission accepts donated sculpture for Plaza Park, sets pilot installation
Summary
The Cultural & Fine Arts Commission unanimously recommended accepting a donated corten-steel sculpture by local artist Peter Hasson for a temporary installation in the southeast quadrant of Plaza Park, and staff will forward the recommendation to city council for review on June 17. The commission asked staff to return with installation costs and a plan for a one-year pilot and interpretation.
The Cultural & Fine Arts Commission voted unanimously to recommend accepting a donated public sculpture by local artist Peter Hasson and installing it on a temporary pilot basis in Plaza Park.
Parks Director Dave Janz described the work, called "Cycles 3" in the proposal: three welded, 96-inch discs made of 1/2-inch corten steel, weighing about 1,600 pounds and designed for a concrete or removable steel-plate base. Janz told commissioners staff had inspected the piece and that the artist has offered technical assistance with placement and long-term maintenance.
"The artist is leaving the area, and so we do need to make sure this piece is off the property before the end of June," Janz said, underscoring the expedited timeline for a council review on June 17.
Commissioners discussed site selection, public safety and durability, and preferred a pilot installation in the southeast quadrant of Plaza Park (near 1st Street East and Napa Street) to gather community feedback. Commissioners also recommended exploring a removable pad or steel plate so the piece can be relocated as long-range park planning proceeds.
Commissioners asked staff for cost detail from the public-art fund (transport, base, labor), and Janz said staff will compile a breakdown before council consideration. He reported that the public-art fund balance is approximately $97,000 and indicated the fund could support the installation, with further allocations considered depending on base type and permit requirements.
Several commissioners suggested interpretive elements to accompany the piece, including an explanatory plaque or a QR-linked audio tour. One commissioner said the prior installation (2022) had an informative plaque that might be reused.
A motion to accept the sculpture for temporary placement and forward the recommendation to city council passed on a unanimous roll-call vote (Commissioner Van Wagner: yes; Commissioner Reiners: yes; Commissioner Momsen: yes; Vice Chair Knudsen: yes; Chair Slade: yes).
Next steps: staff will prepare materials for the city council meeting on June 17, finalize engineering and building-permit requirements if a permanent base is proposed, and return with estimated costs and a pilot-period monitoring plan.
