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City may get sculpture
By: Loren Stanton, Staff Writer
Overland Park officials have given initial approval for placement of an outdoor sculpture to be erected in memory of a father and son who were prominent local bankers.
The Overland Park Community Development Committee voted unanimously last week to recommend that the 18-foot-tall modernistic artwork be installed at the southwest corner of 103rd Street and Metcalf Avenue.
Mary Cohen commissioned the sculpture by Baldwin City artist Matt Kirby in memory of her husband, Barton Cohen, and her father-in-law, Joseph Cohen.
Although the sculpture would stand on public right of way, it would be just outside the branch building of Metcalf Bank. Joseph Cohen founded the bank in 1972, and his son was the principal stockholder.
The Barton Cohen and Mary Cohen Charitable Trust is paying the $67,500 cost of the artwork itself. She asked that the city pay the cost of installation and landscaping.
It is estimated that the city’s cost would be $45,000, with $18,500 coming out of this year’s capital improvements program budget, $1,500 out of this year’s parks budget, and $25,000 from the 2009 capital improvements budget.
The proposal was on the agenda for consideration at Monday’s Overland Park City Council meeting, after press time.
Mary said the sculpture is intended both as a tribute to the two men and as a way to beautify the city and to encourage others to invest in beautification efforts as well. She hopes the artwork could be dedicated sometime in October.
“I thought it would be nice to honor a city that (Joseph and Barton Cohen) both were heavily invested in, both professionally and personally,” she said.
City Arts Coordinator Julie Bilyea said it has been city policy to consider extending matching funds for public art that private individuals propose to purchase and donate.
Still, the expenditure comes at a time when the city has sliced planned programs and capital improvements because of unanticipated revenue shortfalls.
Councilman David White, whose ward includes the area where the sculpture will be located, said the outlay is justified and worthwhile.
“The actual cost of the sculpture is being donated … and all we had to do is some of the infrastructure around the structure,” White said.
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The Overland Park Community Development Committee voted unanimously last week to recommend that the 18-foot-tall modernistic artwork be installed at the southwest corner of 103rd Street and Metcalf Avenue.
Mary Cohen commissioned the sculpture by Baldwin City artist Matt Kirby in memory of her husband, Barton Cohen, and her father-in-law, Joseph Cohen.
Although the sculpture would stand on public right of way, it would be just outside the branch building of Metcalf Bank. Joseph Cohen founded the bank in 1972, and his son was the principal stockholder.
The Barton Cohen and Mary Cohen Charitable Trust is paying the $67,500 cost of the artwork itself. She asked that the city pay the cost of installation and landscaping.
It is estimated that the city’s cost would be $45,000, with $18,500 coming out of this year’s capital improvements program budget, $1,500 out of this year’s parks budget, and $25,000 from the 2009 capital improvements budget.
The proposal was on the agenda for consideration at Monday’s Overland Park City Council meeting, after press time.
Mary said the sculpture is intended both as a tribute to the two men and as a way to beautify the city and to encourage others to invest in beautification efforts as well. She hopes the artwork could be dedicated sometime in October.
“I thought it would be nice to honor a city that (Joseph and Barton Cohen) both were heavily invested in, both professionally and personally,” she said.
City Arts Coordinator Julie Bilyea said it has been city policy to consider extending matching funds for public art that private individuals propose to purchase and donate.
Still, the expenditure comes at a time when the city has sliced planned programs and capital improvements because of unanticipated revenue shortfalls.
Councilman David White, whose ward includes the area where the sculpture will be located, said the outlay is justified and worthwhile.
“The actual cost of the sculpture is being donated … and all we had to do is some of the infrastructure around the structure,” White said.