BENTONVILLE -- The city's newest public art will be on two crosswalks at Southwest A and Southwest Fourth streets.
City Council approved 7-0 the design Tuesday. Alderman Tim Robinson was absent.
Council Action
Bentonville’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• Annexing 25 acres east of Arkansas 112 and south of St. Valery Downs Subdivision from Cave Springs to Bentonville.
• A lot split at 203 N.W. D St.
• A lot split at Northwest A and Northwest Third streets.
• A lot split at 312 and 314 S. Main St.
• A lot split at 307 S. Main St.
• Rezoning 502 and 506 S.W. D St. from single family residential to downtown edge.
Source: Staff Report
The work is called "Speed Bump Illusion" and was created by Joann Lacey and Eric Williams, according to meeting documents.
"The design uses the standard width and spacing of a crosswalk and applies shading to create a three-dimensional illusion of raised speed bumps," Shelli Kerr, planning services manager, wrote in a memo to council members.
It was one of eight proposals the Public Arts Advisory Committee received in response to its call for proposals for "Art Infused Sidewalk."
The design will be tested at the city's compost facility before it's installed on Southwest 4th Street, according to Kerr.
The Traffic Safety and Signage Committee approved the design July 11.
The cost will include $1,500 for the artist's design plus what it will cost for installation, according to meeting documents.
This was the second consecutive council meeting where public art has been on the agenda. Councilmen approved at their July 12 meeting art in four pedestrian tunnels. That project is called "Tunnel Vision" and is being paid for by Visit Bentonville.
The council also approved spending $16,573 Tuesday for a security fence at the Bentonville Community Center.
The center's design included a decorative fence along the northwest side, or back, of the building, but it was placed on hold during the bidding phase to make sure there was enough money for the building, David Wright, Parks and Recreation director, explained to council members in a memo.
The fence will serve multiple purposes, including the security of Community Center patrons, he said.
"The fence will prevent someone, who may or may not pose harm to patrons, from walking to the back door and asking someone to let them in," Wright wrote. "Although we don't know that this is currently a problem, it serves as a preventative measure to ensure our patrons, especially our young patrons, remain as safe as possible."
The fence will also serve as security for the building and create a barrier between the building, which has an admission fee, and Citizens Park, which is free to use.
NW News on 07/27/2016