Public Safety Art Installation Planned for Addison Circle Transit-Oriented Development

In October 2020, the City Council directed staff to create a memorial honoring fallen Addison Police Officer Ronnie Cox and to develop a long-term solution for a larger installation to honor public safety in Addison. The memorial for Officer Ronnie Cox was dedicated on October 2, 2021.

During the June 13 City Council meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Janna Tidwell presented a concept for a public art sculpture that will be located in a public safety-themed park in the Addison Circle transit-oriented development. Over the past year, a steering committee that included both the Police and Fire Chiefs developed and released a call for art that received 15 submissions. The committee asked three artists to further develop concepts and ultimately selected Michigan artist Fritz Olsen.

The proposed 12 to 14-foot-tall design embodies the connection Addison has as a community with those who serve and protect. The central forms depict Police in blue and Fire in red, grounding themselves in the center of the circle, which represents the community. They are structurally and metaphorically connected to one another. The upright forms convey strength and confidence as they stand shoulder to shoulder, collaborating and protecting the community. The circle is tilted to imply motion, change, and progress. The circle surrounds, embraces, and supports the shining stars. Depending on the viewpoint, the shapes can appear to represent a torch, a blade, or a star.

The stainless steel sculpture will be mounted on a stone base and surrounded by circular benches. The Council directed staff to include the $150,000 project cost in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which will be discussed later this summer. The sculpture will likely be completed prior to the park's completion. Staff proposed that it be temporarily located in the courtyard of the Conference and Theatre Centre until it can be relocated to its permanent home.

You can watch the Council's public safety art discussion here and read the presentation here.