The City of Cuyahoga Falls approved its first-ever public art master plan on December 23.
The plan, which Bressi wrote in collaboration with a community-based Advisory Committee, focuses on three themes for projects that are unique to Cuyahoga Falls:
- Set the Table: Front Street and Downtown
- Own the River: Connecting to the Cuyahoga
- Build the City Beautiful: Gateways, Corridors, and Centers
The theme “Set the Table: Front Street and Downtown” builds on the success of the city’s recent downtown streetscape improvements, which converted a forlorn pedestrian mall back into a thriving main street. The plan recommends installing artworks in the City’s various connective passages, murals and wall projects, parking deck projects, and including public art at events and festivals.
“Own the River: Connecting to the Cuyahoga” offers recommendations for how public art can connect people to the Cuyahoga River, which was the backbone of the City’s industrial economy a century ago and is now an important recreational resource. The key proposal is for the creation of River Totems, permanent sculptures or temporary installations that would indicate locations in the city where people can access the river. Each unique artwork would come with a story about peoples’ connection to the water, and over time the collection of artworks would become a well known feature to the city.
The last theme, “Build the City Beautiful: Front Street and Downtown” encourages City agencies and private developers to work conscientiously to include public art in places that are the centers of activity, major entryways and familiar paths of movement. This section outlines three types of projects (Gateways, Centers and Corridors) and identifies potential locations.
The plan also outlines immediate next steps for project mobilization and policy implementation. The City is currently looking at projects for its downtown parking garages and organizing a Public Art Board to oversee public art activities.
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