Willow Bend Adaptive Playground Public Art

The City of Loveland Art in Public Places is accepting Requests for Qualifications for an artist to create unique works of public artwork for the new Willow Bend Neighborhood Park, Universal Access Playground, and Natural Area in Loveland, Colorado. The selected artist(s) should have demonstrated experience in designing and/or fabricating creative playgrounds and/or park elements that reach beyond ADA requirements to create a multisensory experience for park visitors with limited mobility, hearing impairment, cognition challenges, sight restrictions, and other accessibility needs. Willow Bend will be the first universally accessible playground in the City of Loveland and one of only a few such specialized facilities in the Colorado Front Range area.

Willow Bend Neighborhood Park will encompass roughly 125 acres located southeast of downtown Loveland. The northern portion focuses on active play and gradually transitions to a more passive, natural environment at its southern end, including trails, fishing ponds, wildlife areas, and a new environmental education area with parking, restrooms, and an ADA fishing dock. Because of the natural environment, there is a desire for a natural, whimsical, and/or fantasy-like theme for public artwork. Key areas of interest include the unique playground theme, the entry to the neighborhood park, and a new shared access point that might feature a gateway piece, pavilion, and large universally accessible multi-generational interactive playground.

Applications must include: a preliminary statement of approach communicating experience with similar projects; at least 5 images (maximum 10) of fabricated and installed public artwork completed within the past five years, with no more than 2 images per project; professional resume(s) highlighting similar outdoor commissions and sculpture installations; and 3 professional references per artist. Up to three finalists may be selected to present design concepts and will be paid an honorarium for their work. The selected artist/artist team will enter into a contract with the City of Loveland and must carry general liability insurance of $1 million. The project is expected to break ground in late fall 2023 and open by late summer/early fall 2024. All inclusive budget: $55,000.