The City of Salida Public Art Commission has issued a Request for Design Proposal (RFP) for a major new public art project. The design project in question is the site-specific renovation/conversion of a 5,578-square-foot City-owned property into an artful community space celebrating Salida’s diverse character and heritage. The space will showcase a major new work or works of art and incorporate landscaping and public viewing considerations.
The project location is at the corner of U.S. Highway 291 and G Street, at the entrance to the downtown business sector and the Creative Arts District. Currently, the site is designed and used as a recreational skate park, including concrete ramps and bowls traditionally associated with such facilities (a new skate park is under construction on the Salida Aquatic Center grounds on U.S. Highway 50).
Site of the proposed Spirt of Salida project. Image by Brooke Gilmore
The space under consideration is bounded by G Street on the east; West First Street on the north; the Monarch Spur Trail on the west; and parking facilities on the south. The site currently is mostly covered in concrete, with several deep bowls used by skateboarders. There is a small building on the site that may be retained or not, at the designer’s recommendation.
Desired characteristics for the renovated space should possess these qualities:
- landmark stature
- visually inviting
- beautiful yet durable
- year-round access use
- preserving the town’s heritage.
Design Proposals should include several specific elements (outlined in the RFP) as well as the proposer’s qualifications and preliminary renovation budget. Complete requirements and details about the project may be found by clicking here.
This is a paid design project and the chosen design proposal will receive significant compensation from the City of Salida. The city’s deadline for receipt of Proposals is 2:00 p.m. July 19, 2021. Three hard copies and one digital copy of Proposal should be submitted to the City of Salida Public Art Commission, 448 East First St., Salida CO 81201, Attn: Michael Varnum, Arts and Culture Director.
Image courtesy of the City of Salida.
Questions regarding the Request for Proposals must be in writing and emailed to Michael Varnum at pac@cityofsalida.com. Applicants are asked not to contact any other person with inquiries regarding this RFP.
Those who were unable to attend the pre-proposal info meeting earlier in June may be able to view the Zoom video broadcast of that meeting.
The winning RFP applicant will be asked to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with the City of Salida; a copy of which may be obtained from the City of Salida. Winning proposal will be announced on July 26.
Keep it a skate board park for the beginners and smaller fry until the new park at Centennial is open and the new traffic use pattern is established. Also clean up and repair the memorial bricks which make up the base of the sign. This memorial has been neglected for years. When he was mayor, R.T. pushed the skate board project to completion and it has been in virtual constant use for two decades. Those donors whose name are on the bricks deserve better. Move ahead, but honor the past.
Thank you for your comment Earle. The request for design proposals is just going out, so and construction is still a long way away. While AVV does not have information regarding the memorial bricks at the site, we are confident that Salida is such a civi-minded hometown that those bricks marking those who contributed to that first skate park will be treated with respect. Who knows, they may well find a new home at the new, much larger skate park, or a spot within the public art space. Our history is important, and surely visual reminders of it have a place in today’s environment.
Thanks Jan. I hope ArkValleyVoice keeps shining a light on this project. CDOT at the moment is transforming the intersection with new sidewalk and curbing. What little vegetation there was at the corner of the skate board park by the barbershop is gone as of this morning. The City may do as you suggest with the tall memorial skate board sign, but it is not included in the project area, as of now, according to the RFP on the website.