Whether it is a painted mural on the pedestrian bridge wall, musical performances at the Lone Tree Arts Center or the tall dancing sculpture on Commons Street, art has always been a part of the City of Lone Tree’s growth over the past 30 years.
In addition to amplifying the city’s beauty, the city is looking to expand the definition of what art is by learning what public art means to others and how it can be used throughout the city.
“People just realize that when you have public art, it elevates a community, and that’s what we want to do,” said Leigh Chandler, executive director of the Lone Tree Arts Center who is helping advise the city’s art expansion.
Chandler added that she believes art thrives in the city because the residents place a priority on culture.
Earlier this year, city council approved a new comprehensive code which calls for public art. Therefore, staff began to create the city’s first public art master plan.
The latest comprehensive code states that one of the city’s objectives is to “protect and enhance the attractiveness and viability of existing neighborhoods” through land use and streetscape enhancements, such as benches and public art.
“Even though we’re starting the process for a public art plan, it’s just something that’s been pretty top of mind,” Chandler said.
Currently, the city allocates some funding for public art, such as the colorful utility wraps. Chandler said there will also be various projects – like the interactive art sculpture on the Lone Tree Arts Center grounds – that will occur from time-to-time.
Even before the Lone Tree Arts Center opened in 2011, the Lone Tree Photo Club has been hosting public art shows and tries to include residents’ artwork since Lone Tree incorporated.
However, since there is no current coordinated effort in deciding where to place art within Lone Tree, the city is asking residents, employees and visitors to take a survey to learn what kind of art is important, what is wanted and what will enrich the community.
“Art helps to do a lot of things for communities,” said Chandler. “(And) it’s an important piece of what makes Lone Tree, Lone Tree.”
It doesn’t have to be a painting on a wall or a unique sculpture, as there are various forms of art, said Chandler. It could be as simple as a non-traditional crosswalk design, and that is what the city hopes to learn from the survey.
Chandler said that staff hopes that the survey will help form an idea of where within the city there are opportunities for public art, especially as the city continues to develop on the east side of Interstate 25. The city also hopes there will be more funding opportunities outlined in the plan.
“We’ll have a better idea what residents and non-residents think about the direction that we should go within the city when it comes to public art, ” Chandler said.
The city has hired consultants who have developed public art programs for other municipalities throughout the state.
Once the city has the results from the survey, it will analyze the results with the consultants, come up with recommendations and present those ideas to city council. Chandler said she hopes the council will approve the master plan by this fall.
While the city aims at having Colorado-based artists place artwork throughout the city, Chandler wants to commission Douglas County or Lone Tree artists specifically.
And, Chandler added, the purpose for having an art master plan runs deeper than just having a guide – it also aims to serve as inspiration for residents, especially the younger generations, to get into art.
“I would hope that kids see the kinds of careers that you can have in the arts by seeing the performers on stage or when we have the interactive art exhibits,” Chandler said.
The survey can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/LoneTreePublicArt and will be available through June 15.