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Avon council weighs mural and plaza sculpture designs for new Civic Center
Summary
Councilors reviewed two mural options and a proposed 'Avon' sculpture for the new Civic Center plaza; many favored a narrative mural that incorporates local icons, raised questions about scale, visibility and longevity, and debated whether the sculpture should be prominent or visually recess into the mural.
The council reviewed two mural concepts and a proposed plaza sculpture as part of the Civic Center design and gave staff direction to refine the storytelling option. "I'm super excited. I'm excited, but I'm also gonna be honest. I'm nervous," Presenter said as the mural materials were shown, asking councilors for candid feedback.
What was presented: Sign Works provided two mural concepts: Option 1 is a narrative design that incorporates musical elements, trees (Tree City USA), lake/parks imagery and local landmarks including the Riverwalk and blue heron motifs; Option 2 is a more abstract composition designed to read better from a distance. Staff also presented two color/treatment options for the 'Avon' letters sculpture (a gold-accented, high-visibility treatment and a muted dark version that blends into the background).
Council reaction: Several councilors said they preferred a mural that tells Avon’s story—though many asked for changes to composition, color contrast and inclusion of sports elements. One councilor criticized the design, saying it "looks like it was slapped together with AI." Others recommended testing how the mural and the sculpture read at street distance and at plaza level, noting the sculpture will be elevated in a landscaped bed and lit with ground lighting at night.
Costs and durability: Presenter noted replacing or updating a mural could cost around $30,000, so the council should consider whether a design should be refreshed periodically or intended to be long-lasting. Staff said they can ask for additional renderings (including night views) and revise scale and contrast for the 'Avon' letters before making a final sculpture decision.
Next steps: Staff will take feedback to Sign Works and produce revised options for council review, with particular attention to scale, visibility from US‑36/riverwalk and how the sculpture and mural integrate visually.
Sources: Staff presentation and council comments from the July 9, 2026 work session.
