Don Lewis sculpture and musical installation on track for late April–early May unveiling

Staff told the Civic Arts Commission that the Don Lewis Public Art Project is moving ahead on schedule: Mountain Forge has a contract to fabricate the sculpture and the musical-equipment components have been ordered.

Rachel Prater, Recreation Manager, said the installation work and musical equipment deliveries are expected between late April and early May and that staff plans to coordinate the sculpture and instruments so the unveiling can follow installation. “If you’ve been traveling to the park you’ll see the semicircle and a reinforced floor,” a commissioner noted; staff said the site and supporting infrastructure are ready.

Heidi Murphy said all instruments will be playable and that the work is intended to celebrate Don Lewis’s contributions to music and technology. Commissioners discussed scale—estimating the central "maestro" sculpture at roughly 10 feet tall with surrounding instruments up to 9–12 feet—and staff said the artist and fabricator are finalizing delivery timing.

The commission also heard that the Harrington legacy gift provides $20,000 per year for acquisitions (acquisition-only) and that a separate legacy donation of roughly $100,000 was designated for the Don Lewis Harmonic Symphony project. Staff cautioned that some donations carry time limits on expenditure.

What happens next: staff will provide timing updates as Mountain Forge confirms delivery dates and will seek commissioner input for the unveiling and any public programming tied to the installation.