I often shake my head when artists and engineers get together to ‘solve’ a problem. Often engineers win by saying safety is more important than artistic integrity. But if engineers would talk to artists once in awhile they may find a solution that is not only SAFE but beautiful.
I understand the city and the original artist who created the wall are in disagreement, I’m not going down that rabbit hole. That is a gigantic political mess of he said, she said (I tend to believe the artist in this one). I also take issue with the fact that the artist hasn’t really been consulted at all on how to fix this wall (even though they claim they have consulted him, he says otherwise). As I understand it, he agreed to fix the wall for around $30K, but it would require some work AND a special backfill. It would also require the Parks Department To put up a special signage telling people to not climb on the ‘ART’ or take rocks from the structure. But that ship has sailed. The city’s solution is to build a permanent block wall (Which at some estimates could exceed $250K). I think the city, the Parks Department and the artist could all compromise and have the best of both worlds. The city could build their permanent structure and save the rocks from the original wall and ‘clad’ them into the new wall (you can see cladding in the images above). The problem is the city wants to just bulldoze the entire structure without saving the stones that make the buffalo hunt image. The artist has even requested he be allowed to save those stones by carefully deconstructing the wall. The Parks Department is not keen on the idea.
I actually think if the original stones of the image were clad into a permanent structure it would look pretty cool (probably easier to see) and it would be ‘safe’ according to the engineers.
Of course this would require a compromise, and we know the Parks Director doesn’t know the meaning of a compromise. Heck they can’t even find their ‘no mow’ list or how the Elmwood shed fire got started.
Why is it such a big deal to patch a red granite wall? There’s lots of red granite and (basically) it’s a retaining wall. The Parks Department is known for devious tactics. One would suspect it will be fixed for 30k but someone’s brother in law will invoice for 150k. This is the Parks Department with their own logo who contracted with a Nebraska company to manage golf courses. They contract for mowing yet they have 70+ employees of which none is a minority. The Trump-like Director has proven himself and should be replaced.
where is this?
Indian Mound Road, 18th and Kiwanis, the road goes past the Zoo over to the Country Clubs, it is technically the lower level of Sherman Park.
So this is going to be replaced the ugly concrete mega blocks?
LJL, the answer is yes. The plan is for an ugly monster block wall. While monster or keystone block have a purpose, often as a temporary solution, the effect in the end is an ugly concrete wall. Of course they now are willing to dye it dark to hide the normal gray color.
The block wall planned will dissolve over time just as all the other block walls the city has installed over the last 20 years.
Wow, this is a creative solution.
Did they put gravel behind that wall to offer greater drainage, so this would not happen?
As a liberal, I do know something about walls, however, especially retaining walls. For every two feet of retaining wall, there should be a foot of rock behind it for drainage.
It might also help to have a drain hole for the rock that jets out from the bottom of the wall.
#LiberalsKnowWalls
The wall as designed and built around the drainage needs