SALISBURY, Md. - Salisbury City Park could soon see a new addition as the city continues its search for a permanent public sculpture. Officials announced that the deadline for artists to submit proposals has been extended to Sept. 30, 2025.
The sculpture will be placed at the northwest corner of the park, an area that connects the playground, the Salisbury Zoo and downtown. City leaders say the goal is to create a piece that is interactive, accessible and designed to bring the community together.
Derek Jarman, economic development manager for the City of Salisbury, said the location was chosen because of the steady flow of people passing through the area.
“So we picked that location, specifically because of the foot traffic that it gets, obviously with the West Bridge us there, but also from the street view,” Jarman said. “You have folks that are leaving from middle that are walking home. You have folks that are picking their kids, driving past the area. So it’s kind of a hotbed of foot traffic.”
Jarman also explained the reason for extending the deadline.
“We wanted to get a few more applicants. So we are definitely seeing an uptick in applications with, college students coming back. We've had more foot traffic in the area with some of the events, obviously, going on… there's no reason not to extend it just a little bit just to be able to give those folks that are a little bit on the fence on if they should or if they could apply,” he said.
The project is being funded through the Maryland State Arts Council. The city secured a $30,000 implementation grant, which will cover costs for design, materials, fabrication and installation. Five semi-finalists will each receive a $1,000 stipend to further develop their ideas with models, renderings and material samples.
For locals like Greg Reddell, who runs a business near the park and visits daily, the investment in public art is a welcome move.
“I think the more we beautify this, that’s it’s a gem for Salisbury and Wicomico County,” Reddell said. “And to have it this close to the zoo, this is a real magnet for economic activity. This is something that people really value. And the more we can put into it, I think the better off we’ll all be.”
City officials say they are hoping the extension will encourage more artists to apply, including those considering working in teams. The final design is expected to be selected in the coming months, with installation planned for the near future.
Interested artists must submit their qualifications to the city by Sept. 30.