Sheridan Avenue at Wapato Park Public Art
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CALL TO ARTISTS | REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
CITY OF TACOMA ARTS AND CULTURAL VITALITY DIVISION & PARKS TACOMA
Public Art for Sheridan Ave. at Wapato Park
Deadline: July 22, 2025, 5pm (PT)
Budget: $80,000 all inclusive
Call Summary
The City of Tacoma’s Arts and Cultural Vitality Division and Parks Tacoma seek an artist or artist team to design and create a sculptural artwork for Wapato Park along Sheridan Ave. The chosen artist will create an artwork that welcomes visitors to the park from the neighborhood. The artwork should be compatible with the natural setting of the park and should enhance the environment. The artist should also consider the history and cultural relevancy of the site for the community. The artwork should be inviting and appeal to people of all ages in the neighborhood. The artist will coordinate their work with Parks Tacoma and City staff and contractors.
Eligibility
- Applicant(s) can apply as a single artist or as an artist team.
- Applicant(s) cannot be an employee, board member, or council member of Parks Tacoma or the City of Tacoma.
- Applicant(s) must be 18 years or older and not a full-time student.
Background
The City of Tacoma is reconstructing Sheridan Avenue between S 64th Street and S 72nd street by narrowing traffic lanes, adding a shared use path on the Wapato Park side and sidewalk on the eastside with curb and gutter. Parks Tacoma is transferring a small piece of land along the ROW to the City for the purposes of this enhancement. Wapato Park was established in the early 1920’s as a public park after serving as an informal and private recreation facility since the late 1800s. The Tacoma City Council added Wapato Park to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places in February 2025. It continues to be a popular park for recreation today providing a place for youth fishing, playground and summer camp programs, and experiencing nature and wellness by walking the pathways. It is one of Tacoma’s signature parks and is a focal point of the South Tacoma Neighborhood. The Wapato Park Master Plan, adopted in 2005, calls for the addition of public art tothis park, and this project is included in the Parks Tacoma 2025-2026 Public Art Plan. In 2026, the park is slated for playground equipment upgrades.
Goals of the larger capital project
The Sheridan Ave Complete Streets project will provide improved connections between major arterial streets, a safer walking and biking route to Wapato Park and traffic calming measures to reduce vehicular speeds. The project presents an opportunity to create artwork that marks the boundaries of the park. Location options for artwork include the green area at the intersection of Sheridan and 72nd, which has the most visibility and marks the beginning of the park, and an area at 64th and Sheridan that marks the entry to the trail that leads to the pipeline bridge and walkway. The Parks Tacoma 2025-2026 Public Art Plan identifies this project as meeting the criteria of the 1% for Art program in the areas of: Community desire, as expressed through the Master Plan; Context and storytelling, given the historic nature of the park and its significance to South Tacoma; Leveraging funds and placemaking opportunity with agency partner, with the planned work of the Public Works department requiring easements and land transfers from Parks Tacoma.
How to apply
You will send us the following items via this Submittable Form:
- Ten (10) images of past work, plus artwork information.
- Resume
- Short answer responses:
- Give us your artist bio, describing your work and artistic practice (up to 200 words).
- Why are you interested in this project (up to 200 words)?
- Describe your experience connecting with community in your practice and/or your connection to Tacoma and the communities that Wapato Park serves (up to 200 words).
- Anything else you want to tell us (optional - up to 200 words)?
Parks Tacoma
Parks Tacoma is an independent park district established in 1907, operating over 73 parks and natural areas, 4 community centers, two accredited zoos, and an accredited history museum.
Parks Tacoma believes that good parks, open space and program services contribute to economic development by fostering economic benefits and promoting tourism. Environmentally, they provide green infrastructure and help manage climate change. Socially, they revitalize communities, create safer neighborhoods, help children learn and grow, improve public and environmental health, and support smart growth. Culturally, open space and program services can nurture a sense of place in the community, and provide opportunities to engage the public of diverse backgrounds.
Mission: Creating healthy opportunities to play, learn and grow.
Vision: Parks Tacoma envisions a vibrant, active and engaged community.
Art Opportunity/Consideration
The chosen artist will create an artwork that welcomes visitors to the park from the neighborhood. The artwork should be compatible with the natural setting of the park and should enhance the environment. The artist should also consider the history and cultural relevancy of the site for the community. The artwork should be inviting and appeal to people of all ages in the neighborhood. The artist will coordinate their work with Parks Tacoma and City staff and contractors.
Proposed artwork must:
- Be site responsive
- Consider history and cultural relevancy of the community
- Consider the audience of families and children
- Be informed by engagement with the local community
- Work with the planned improvements
- Enhance the user experience
- Meet all applicable codes
- Be durable in a neighborhood park environment
- Be installed no later than September 2026
Selection Criteria
Selection Criteria on which the artist/artist team will be judged, such as:
- Artistic quality as exemplified in past work
- Ability to bring a unique perspective and think conceptually and imaginatively
- Ability to create artwork with a connection to the South Tacoma neighborhood and Wapato Park
- Ability to think and work in a scale and with materials appropriate to the site
- Ability to create work that is safe, durable, and requires little maintenance
- Ability to relate to multiple types of viewers
Project Support
The selected artist can expect the following support from the design and project management team for this project:
- Access to design documents and relevant background information
- Meaningful inclusion in design team meetings
- Introduction to relevant community members as appropriate
Timeline
July 22, 2025, 5pm (PT) Deadline for submissions
July - August 2025 Review of submissions and selection
August - September 2025 Contracting & orientation
September 2026 Completion of public artwork
Questions? Contact Marissa Laubscher, mlaubscher@tacoma.gov
RESOURCES: Project Overhead View