Call Description

About David Scull Park and the David Scull Park Improvement Project: Located within Montgomery County, Maryland, the City of Rockville is less than 15 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Rockville is regarded as one of America’s leading small cities for work, for play, and for life. It is the vibrant, highly educated, business-friendly home to some of the nation’s, and the world’s, most prominent biomed and technology companies. Rockville is a city that remembers and reveres its roots, its commitment to resident-centric public service, environmental stewardship and the connectivity of its neighborhoods and residents. In 2025, it placed as the ninth most diverse city in the United States. A high priority of Rockville’s Mayor and Council is the City’s commitment to Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as these diverse cultures are woven into the fabric of our neighborhoods and contribute to our thriving community.

David Scull Park is located at 1133 First Street, Rockville, MD 20850. The park is named after David Scull, a former Delegate for the Maryland House of Delegates, a Montgomery County Councilmember and civic advocate. He is the grandson on Colonel Edward Brooke Lee, a Maryland politician who was instrumental in the development of Montgomery County. The location is within walking or short driving distance for residents in the David Scull Housing Authority, Legacy at Lincoln Park, Burgundy Knolls, historic Lincoln Park, East Rockville, and Redgate Farms neighborhoods. It is also near local businesses in the Southlawn Industrial Area. The park is 4.10 acres in size and offers amenities including a baseball/softball field, basketball court, playground, and amenities for grilling and picnics.  

The David Scull Improvement Project is one of Rockville’s current Capital Improvement Projects and is based on recommendations and findings from multiple plans and studies conducted by the city. The project is intended to provide a community gateway between the Southlawn industrial area and adjacent residential neighborhoods with the park as the featured entrance point. Plans for the park improvements include a pavilion with restrooms, concrete walkway connecting the corner of Taft Street and East Gude Drive with First Street, multipurpose rectangular field, and landscaping and hardscaping throughout to improve usability of the park. The public artwork will serve as the entrance and signage for the park, as well as a landmark for the location. 

The selected artist will be required to meet with residents for an in-person workshop before the final design is approved for fabrication and installation. A community engagement survey may also be conducted to inform the final design. 

Project Vision and Goals: The vision for this artwork is that it will serve as both a gateway piece and sign including the park's name to create an exciting and engaging entry point for the park, elevating the position of the park as a major gateway that welcomes people to the City of Rockville. Because the location of the park also creates an entryway into East Rockville and Lincoln Park and is near the edge of northeastern Rockville, it is ideal that the artwork’s design incorporate and/or acknowledge elements of the landscape, nature, history, and/or local cultures. 

In a community engagement survey for the project, residents responded that they like David Scull Park because it is conveniently located, spacious, and is a good park for families with children. They would like the artwork to incorporate natural elements such as birds, animals, insects, plants, and flowers native to Rockville. Looking at examples of gateway public artworks, residents like those that are inviting, with shapes and colors that blend with the environment and have curves, rather than angular shapes. They would like the artwork to be elegant, festive, and welcoming, rather than industrial or bulky. 

Parameters for the Artwork: The artwork will be installed at the park’s main entrance on the corner of the intersection of Taft Street and Gude Drive. See the park improvement plans for more details about the placement of the artwork. A wall will be constructed on either side of the entrance and will be 20’ in length on both sides, for a total of 40’, and 2’6” wide. The wall may be incorporated into the entryway with the artwork mounted on it. The maximum height of the artwork and the wall combined is 15’. It must be installed in accordance with all relevant codes and ordinances, must be a safe distance from the roads, and may not block the line of sight for drivers at the intersection. 

The park does not have a power source, and therefore, a lighting element cannot be included in this project. The artwork must also be suitable for public viewing by all ages. The selected materials must be reviewed and approved by the City of Rockville, and materials and methods must prioritize durability, ease of maintenance, and safety. 

Budget: The all-inclusive budget is $140,000-$200,000 maximum. These funds must cover design work, engineering, fabrication, delivery, site preparation, installation, as well as other associated expenses including liability insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, all necessary travel, and the artist’s fee. Artists invited to submit a proposal will be asked to include a budget falling within the $140,000-$200,000 range.

Selection Process: 

• Artists submit materials for consideration.
• The Art Selection Committee reviews proposals and identifies up to three finalists.
• Finalists will be provided more detailed information on the project, including community engagement responses, an invitation to visit the City of Rockville and meet with stakeholders with accommodations covered by the city, and a $750 honorarium to develop a site-specific proposal.
• Site-specific proposals are presented to the Art Selection Committee.
• The Art Selection Committee reviews proposals and recommends selection of one artist.
• The City of Rockville’s Cultural Arts Commission is presented with the Art Selection Committee's recommendation and votes to forward the recommendation to the Mayor and Council for approval.
• The Cultural Arts Commission’s recommendation is forwarded to the City of Rockville Mayor and Council for consideration and final award of the public art commission.
• The selected artist is contracted with the City of Rockville.

Target timeline for installation is calendar year 2027 or 2028. It is understood that the project schedule may need to be adjusted based upon the selected artist’s schedule, as well as progress on the park improvements. The City of Rockville reserves the ability to adjust this timetable as required during the selection and development process.

Application Requirements

Artists must submit the following materials to be considered:  

A CaFE Application including:

• CV or Resume - Uploaded as a separate document and should include link(s) to the artist's website and/or social media platforms.
• Public Art Experience - Uploaded as a separate document, a list of three recent public art commissions and contact information for each project.
• References - Uploaded as a separate document, a list of three references including the reference's name, email address, and organizational affiliation.
• Work Samples - Submit one document of up to ten (10) images of past works and list title, media, location, year created, and budget for each artwork
• Artist Statement - Include brief information on artistic practice, key themes, and past community engagement methods

All work samples must be of works already completed and installed. No renderings will be accepted. All work samples must be of artworks created by the artist submitting the application. The artist may not include other artists’ work or take credit for other artists’ work in their application or materials related to the application, such as the website and/or social media platforms included in the application for this project.

Eligibility Criteria

This Request for Qualifications is open to established public artists who:  

• Have a portfolio of their completed artworks and work history demonstrating the ability to successfully complete this project.
• Can demonstrate experience directly engaging with communities on the design of a public artwork.
• Are experienced conducting research to incorporate the history and/or unique aspects of a place into their public artworks.
• Have the skill and ability to design the artwork in the specified space and its associated parameters, select the appropriate materials, and successfully fabricate and install the artwork.
• Are eligible to work in the United States.