Project Description:

The City of Lewisville is seeking qualifications from artists who wish to create a set of artistic markers along the future Timber Creek Trail Extension that will connect an underserved neighborhood with Central Park, the City’s largest neighborhood park.  The new trail will be approximately 1 mile long and connect to an existing trail that runs west and connects Central Park to the City’s flagship recreation center - Thrive.  The new trail will run along the northern edge of Timber Creek east to Corporate Drive and feature a combination of elevated boardwalk and concrete trail sections.  Construction of the trail is anticipated to begin in Spring 2025 for a duration of 18-24 months.

Specifically, the City seeks an artist, or artist team, who can create a unique work of art that honors the three ecosystems that converge Lewisville for this trail project to enhance this extension. This is an opportunity for artists who work in medium to small sized outdoor works, or serial-style works. Artists who work with themes of nature are strongly encouraged to apply. 

This call is open to Texas-based artists only. 

This project is largely funded by the City of Lewisville 2015 Bond Program and will be one of the final projects completed with this funding source. The City’s Public Art Program is supplementing the funding for this project. 

Background and Context:

Lewisville, Texas

Lewisville was formed in 1847 and incorporated in 1925. Located north of Dallas along Interstate 35E in the bustling DFW Metroplex, the city currently has a culturally diverse population of about 135,000 residents and is a major retail and employment center for the region. Key features include Lewisville Lake, the LLELA Nature Preserve, and historic Old Town Lewisville.

Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department

Part of what makes Lewisville special is its abundance of parks and a wide range of recreation activities. The City has focused extensive efforts on maintaining a first class park system, facilities, and scenic trails. The Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department's mission statement states; “in order to create a thriving community through nature and play, we will become the best Parks and Recreation Department in the State of Texas.” This will be achieved by

• Connecting communities through recreational and educational opportunities
• Developing and maintaining parks, trails, and public spaces
• Preserving and restoring our natural resources.

The Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department is a CAPRA accredited agency that provides access to a unique system of parks, trails, open space and recreational facilities for over 135,000 residents. The system includes 4,500+ acres of public open space (including a 2,800 acre preserve that is centered around Lewisville Lake and the Elm Fork of the Trinity River), greenbelts, neighborhood parks, 24 miles of trails, two recreation centers (one with a natatorium), two outdoor aquatic facilities, three sports complexes, and two campgrounds. In addition, the department is responsible for maintaining medians, right-of-ways, and the public tree canopy. Activities and projects are funded through a combination of resources including the general fund, 4B sales tax fund, user and development fees, grants and bonds.

The Parks and Recreation Department follows several comprehensive and master plans for development and operations including: 

● Lewisville 2025 - a guide for what Lewisville should look like when it is 100 years old in 2025 by focusing on seven big moves and three strategic moves. The department serves as the lead on many initiatives under the Big Moves: Green Centerpiece and Extending the Green. 

● Healthy Infrastructure Plan - three-pronged master plan (parks, trails and urban tree canopy) adopted in February 2023 to align resources for equitable investment in infrastructure and programs to give each Lewisville resident the best opportunities to be healthy. 

● Green Centerpiece Master Strategy - establishes action steps for the City and its partners for managing and creating access to LLELA and the surrounding parks and public spaces in the Green Centerpiece, as well as for updating policy and development guidelines to reflect the sustainable practices and requirements. The most recent update to this strategy was approved by all participating agencies in 2022. 

National Study Visit - The Triangle Neighborhood

In 2018, the City of Lewisville joined the 10-Minute Walk to a Park Initiative spearheaded by the Trust for Public Land, National Recreation and Park Association and Urban Land Institute (ULI).  The Initiative aims to ensure that all Americans have access to a safe and quality park within a 10-minute walk of their front door.  In 2019, an interdisciplinary team of ULI members visited Lewisville to assist with the development of a plan to address a park desert in an area known as the Triangle.  This plan helped chart the City’s efforts to improve public infrastructure and walkability and to connect residents with the existing park system resulting in the development of a Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, the Timber Creek Trail Extension and Southwest Parkway Complete Street project.

Lewisville Public Art Program and Master Plan

The City’s Public Art Master Plan was adopted in January 2018, and updated in 2024. The plan sets out a vision for the role that public art can play in Lewisville’s future as a successful city. The City of Lewisville views the public art program as a valuable way to express civic pride, an extension of Lewisville’s commitment to provide residents and visitors with access to arts and cultural experiences, and a means to visually make strong connections to the city’s cultural and economic diversity. This project was one of the projects recommended in that plan.

Link to Lewisville’s Public Art Master Plan 2024 Update.  

Project Scope and Parameters:

The City of Lewisville has established specific scope and parameters for this public art project with the intent of creating a unique and inspiring work of art for those who visit and will use the Timber Creek Trail. The City is looking for an artist or team of artists that will be able to adhere to these parameters through their work. 

• Appropriate and Unique: The City is seeking an original, one-of-a-kind art project that is appropriate for Lewisville and for the diverse community that will experience it.
• Artistic Considerations: Preference will be given to artists who are experienced with outdoor park installations and/or naturalist type work. Artistic practices with consideration of durable and sustainable approaches are highly desired. Artists who work with themes of nature are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Other Important Considerations: 
  • The trail will be largely shaded but some areas will have sun more regularly.
  • Works must either be stand alone or can be attached to man-made structures. Works cannot be attached to trees along the trail.
  • There will be no permanent lighting or power available at the installation site(s) for the work(s).
  • Traditional, colorful, powder-coating finishes are not preferred due to limited longevity in Texas extreme climate.
  • This trail is in the floodplain, seasonal flooding is a regular occurrence. Materials used on the works must be able to withstand possible submersion in water.
  • This extension will include three trailheads (entrances) and at least two bridges.
  • This call is open to Texas-based artists only. 
• Placement of Piece(s): Work for this project may be installed at various locations along the trail. Final location(s) will be determined by the selected artist and staff. Map renderings of the trail route can be found here. Design renderings will be provided to finalists or selected artist(s) when they become available.

Maps showing the area and relation to other parks as mentioned above.  

Materials and Media: 

Durability and Maintenance: The artwork should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. If interactive elements are part of the project, then replacement parts should be readily available or easily sourced for future replacement and maintenance. This project will be outdoors in the public realm and may therefore be exposed to physical stressors such as touching and potentially climbing by Trail users, as well as all types of weather including intense sun, wind, rain and frozen precipitation. 

The selected artist will be encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal for the project. Artists with past projects that have successful long term durability and proven maintenance potential (as informed by materials submitted and reference checks) are strongly encouraged to apply.  All awarded public art contracts will be reviewed by the City to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as ADA standards. 

See images of  materials and fixtures that are being specified for construction of the trail here. 

Budget: 

The budget for this commission is up to $50,000 USD which will be allocated to a single artist or artist team. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the creation of the artwork including, but not limited to: the artist’s design fee, materials, consultation fees (such as structural engineering), insurance, tools, fabrication, studio expenses, transportation, installation, travel to and from the site for installation/dedication, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. The City will be responsible for preparing the site for installation of the artwork and for signage for the completed work. The artist is expected to travel to Lewisville two to three times for this project; once for a site visit before final design is complete and community presentation, again for installation of the work, and it is highly desired that the artist also attend a dedication event after installation is completed. Additionally, several virtual meeting check-ins with the selection panel or the full Arts Advisory Board, and regular updates to city staff, will be required throughout the fabrication process. 

Timeline: 

Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (MST) -  Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system) 

Early Nov. 2024 - Notification sent to Finalists 

Jan. 2024 - Finalist interviews and presentations 

Spring 2025 - Selected artist notification

Project Completion and Installation timeline will be finalized through the issuance of the contract with the selected artist(s).

Application Requirements

In response to this call, applicants will be asked to submit a Statement of Interest, up to eight digital images and/or video samples of past work, a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) and up to three professional references (if available) via the CaFÉ™ online application system (www.callforentry.org).  

Required Materials: (Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. The applicant’s name must appear on all materials submitted. 

Statement of Interest – Please submit a statement outlining your interest in the project.  Please include your experience working on projects of this kind. You may also include how you have, or may, engage with stakeholders to inform your plans and address the stated scope and parameters of the project if commissioned. Please name your file accordingly: Last Name.First Initial.Statement (i.e. Smith.J.Statement.pdf). 

Digital Images and/or Video – Please submit up to eight work samples, including digital images or video of previously completed artworks.

Please do not send specific proposals; the panel will not consider them.  You may refer to completed artworks or projects submitted in your application that exemplify the aesthetic direction you might consider for the project if you are a finalist.   

Résumé or CV – Please submit a current résumé or CV that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. Please name your file accordingly: Last Name.First Initial.Resume (i.e. Smith.J.Resume.pdf). 

References – Please provide information about up to three professional references, including their name, title, phone number and email address. Please provide an indication of the context in which the person knows you. Please name your file accordingly: Last Name.First Initial.References (i.e. Smith.J.References.pdf). 

Process and expectations for finalist interviews: 

From these application materials, the artist selection panel will choose up to three finalists for telephone or online interview.  Finalists will be given additional details about what to prepare for the interview which will include the request to develop a site-specific proposal and general budget breakdown.  Finalists will be paid $1,000 (USD) for their time in preparing a proposal and for participating in the interview process. From the interview process, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission and recommended to Lewisville City Council for approval. 

The selected artist or artist team for the commission will collaborate with City Staff and representatives from the Arts Advisory and Parks Board members on final design, and will be responsible for fabricating the artwork, bringing it to the site and installing it.

Eligibility Criteria

This project is open to TEXAS-based artists (only), regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or disability. 

Artists working in a variety of 3-D and outdoor appropriate media are eligible to apply. 

Artists without access to a computer can call 972.219.8446 to make arrangements to use a computer at the City’s art center. 

Questions:  

Please direct all questions about the project to Denise Helbing, Arts Center Manager, City of Lewisville, at 972.219.8478.