Puma Park Call for Art

The South Suburban Park and Recreation District's Public Art Committee requests proposals for permanent artwork to be placed at Puma Park, located at 7900 S Ogden Way, Centennial, CO 80122. The park includes playgrounds, restrooms, multipurpose fields, open space, trails, a shelter, and a baseball field. The Lee Gulch Trail passes through the property, providing connectivity to the High Line Canal and Mary Carter Greenway Trails. Public art will coincide with park improvements including new play structures, a shade pavilion, park benches, and new concrete flatwork and playground surfacing to improve ADA access. The Public Art Committee has not identified a specific location within the park to consider a variety of submissions and artist recommendations. Likely locations would be between S Ogden Way and the playground area or along the trail. For maintenance purposes, artwork and foundation must be at least five feet from boulders, trees, or other objects.

Proposed artwork should be appropriate for family-focused uses, integral to the site in theme, materials, and scale, unique, and thoughtfully integrated into the existing environment. Artwork must meet or exceed standards for structural integrity and durability, be weather, vandal, and graffiti resistant, and meet or exceed standards for public safety. Although not required, the PAC encourages proposals to engage youth artists of the District. Submissions may include existing artist-owned work if appropriate for the site. Artists are recommended to visit the site prior to submitting a proposal.

Up to $25,000 is available for all expenses including artist fees, materials, fabrication, finishes, underground foundation, engineering, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, and associated expenses. The selected artist must provide a Certificate of Insurance effective during delivery and installation. SSPRD may assist with physical installation depending on capabilities. SSPRD reserves the right to request installation plans stamped by a Colorado-licensed engineer at no additional cost. This project is open to all artists residing in Colorado with appropriate background, experience, and reputation. Commissioned or artist-owned work will be considered. The selected artwork may not be duplicated within 200 miles of the site. Finalists will present design concepts and receive a $100 proposal fee. The selected artist will enter into a contract with a 1/3-1/3-1/3 payment plan. Initial deadline: January 18, 2024. Committee selects finalists: January 22, 2024. Finalists notified: January 29, 2024. Finalists present proposals: February 27, 2024. SSPRD Board approval and contract execution: March/April 2024. Art installation and completion: to be negotiated, no later than September 2024.