Thursday, March 28, 2024

City of Southlake and Park Village Host Public Art Dedication for Hunter Brown’s “Take Off”

On Wednesday, August 11, the City of Southlake hosted a public art dedication for Hunter Brown’s “Take Off,” and the new fountain at Park Village.

City Council members, Arts Council members, and representatives from ShopCore gathered at Park Village to dedicate Southlake’s latest public art piece and new Park Village fountain. Mayor Pro-Tem Chad Patton opened the ceremony, followed by remarks by Arts Council Chairperson Tamara McMillan and ShopCore Vice President of Property Management Chris Dykstra.

Patton expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of children playing near the fountain as their parents dined in one of Park Village’s many restaurants.

“It’s great to see this beautiful place come to life!” Patton said.

Dykstra thanked the City for their continuous support of Park Village and the installment of public art in this popular Southlake destination.

Tamara McMillan provided an in-depth description of the new piece and the Arts Council’s role in public art procurement in the city. City Council appointed the Arts Council to advise on all matters related to public art in Southlake. The Hotel Occupancy Tax funds all public art initiatives, including sculptures like “Take Off.”

Created by Hunter Brown of Innovated Sculpture Design, “Take Off,” is the newest addition to Southlake’s robust public art collection. It is a modern stainless-steel sculpture standing 15 feet in height and composed of twisting and turning forms that ascend upward, intersecting and jutting through space. Abstract in design, the movement of the forms invoke an aeronautical feel that pays tribute to the airstrip that was once a part of this area.

Next time you are at Park Village, make sure to admire our newest art piece while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful new fountain.

City to Install Public Art at Park Village

Ideas are beginning to take shape for the artwork planned to be installed at the Park Village fountain at the corner of Southlake Boulevard and Carroll Avenue.  

During a joint meeting January 27, Mayor Laura Hill, the City Council and the Southlake Arts Council discussed art options and timeframe for the installation. 

The Arts Council envisions a contemporary sculpture that portrays flight. The property is the former site of an airstrip. Discussions are ongoing with an artist based in Arkansas. 

“Southlake’s Public Art program brings such a special feel to our community,” Mayor Laura Hill said. “Working with the Arts Council to bring another incredible piece to one of Southlake’s most popular areas is exciting. That corner deserves a special piece that captures the spirit of our City and all it represents.” 

Funding for the artwork will come from a public investment agreement with the property owner that uses sales and property tax from the development. 

In November, the Southlake City Council approved a zoning change and site plan for the Park Village development that included modifications to the fountain area. The fountain was deemed inoperable, and the modifications will correct issues to create a community atmosphere. The site plans call for the City to install public art. 

The property owner began construction this week to modify the fountain area with an anticipated completion June 2021, weather permitting. 

Council Approves Owner Plans to Fix Park Village Fountain

The Southlake City Council approved a zoning change and site plan for the Park Village development during the November 17 Council meeting. Plans include modifications to the fountain area, landscaping and hardscaping, as well as project milestones. 

The fountain on the property located at Southlake Boulevard and Carroll Avenue is inoperable and the property owner is seeking to correct the issues to create a community atmosphere. 

In the plans submitted by Dunaway Associates, the large fountain would be reduced and an activity lawn, public art, landscaping and a shade structure would be added. The City will have access to the property to install and maintain any public art installed. 

Construction is expected to begin in January 2021 and be completed by June 2021, weather permitting. 

For more details about the project, watch the discussion during the October 20 City Council Meeting and the November 17 City Council meeting. 

ShopCore Works Toward Mid-March Completion of Fountains

With the new timeline set by ShopCore Properties, the completion date for the Park Village Fountains is set to occur in mid-March 2019.

In December 2018, ShopCore Properties was granted permits to complete the repair work, concentrating on plumbing and robotics. ShopCore representatives met with City Staff last month to present the expected completion date. This week, the fountain was filled with water as workers moved toward completion.

The Park Village Fountains are located on the corner of Southlake Boulevard and Carroll Avenue. The Southlake City Council approved the privately-owned lighted fountains as part of the Park Village development in 2013.

Park Village Fountain Repair Update

Contractor work on the privately owned Park Village fountain located on Southlake Carroll Avenue and Southlake Boulevard is ongoing after it was found to require extensive repairs.

In June of this year, ShopCore Properties informed the City about the need to repair the fountain again after previous restorations in 2017. Repairs on the fountain started earlier this summer, and in a statement recently provided to the City, ShopCore management says they have not been given an anticipated completion date, however, repairs have been taking place daily.

“The fountain is privately owned and while there is a developer’s agreement in place, to date no City monies have been contributed towards its construction or upkeep,” said Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski. “The City has been asked many times about its status. We look forward to repairs being complete and the fountain running the way that was approved by the City Council.”

Southlake is the Perfect Family Staycation

Have all the fun and relaxation of a vacation, without having to leave town! From restaurants to shopping to our beautiful parks to our luxurious spas and hotels to our fun events, Southlake has everything you need for the perfect staycation.

Splash, Play and Run

Whether it’s a run through one of the trails at Bob Jones Park or taking your kids for a splash at Bicentennial Park, there’s a park for you and your family!

Start your staycation at one of our many parks.

Shop ‘til You Drop

Take a midday stroll through Southlake Town Square, Park Village, Shops of Southlake or some of our other shopping options and find the perfect shopping experience for you. From finding the perfect outfit to getting started on your new hobby, Southlake has a store for you.

View our over 260 shopping options here.

Bring Out Your Inner Chef

When you’re planning your staycation, why not take a cooking class? Central Market, Taste Buds Kitchen and Sur La Table all offer a wide variety of classes to choose from!

Dine Out

Start your day off with a nice brunch, enjoy lunch at one of our breezy patio restaurants, grab a coffee, have a nice steak dinner and finish with dessert right here in Southlake! We offer a wide range of dining options and cuisines that are going to make your staycation perfect.

Find the perfect bite here.

Pet-Friendly Options

Your staycation can be spent with your furry companion thanks to our many pet-friendly options. You can take Sparky over to BooBoo’s Buddies Dog Park at Bob Jones Park for a walk or take him with you to lunch or dinner at one of our many pet-friendly dining options. Get him the VIP treatment from grooming to a massage or check into one of the pet-friendly hotels.

See just how pet-friendly Southlake is here.

Relax, it’s Your Staycation

Your staycation can be exactly how you want it. You can kick back and relax. Southlake offers a variety of spa options, and you can relax in one of our luxurious hotel options!

Choose from one of many spa options here.

View our hotel accommodations here.

Don’t Forget These Activities!

Southlake has the perfect attractions to enhance your staycation. You can watch a movie at Harkins Theatre or head on over to the Red Door Escape Room. This place locks you in a room for 60 minutes with friends and family, and you have to solve clues to escape the room!

Park Village Fountain to be Repaired

The privately owned fountain at Park Village is in need of repairs that could take several months to complete.

Representatives from ShopCore Properties, the owners of Park Village, tell the City that while the fountain had been working over the last several months, recently new issues were discovered.

“We are doing everything we can to permanently repair the fountain at Park Village, said Terrie Hatfield, Regional Property Manager at ShopCore Properties. “With each repair, there is a necessary investigatory process to define the root cause of each breakdown, which requires specialists to evaluate.  We are continuously addressing all repairs and are committed to ensuring Park Village is a best in class property.”

The fountain was previously repaired in 2017 after experiencing pipe corrosion issues.

Park Village Fountain Goes Dry for Repairs

The privately-owned fountain at Park Village is currently turned off due to water leak and pipe corrosion issues. According to the Park Village property management, ShopCore Properties, several steps must be taken before it is in working order again.

Those steps include filling the fountain with non-corrosive City water to help determine where the leak is coming from, repairing the corroded water lines, re-plastering the inside of the fountain and finally sealing the outside masonry.  Once the fountain is operational it will continue to be run on City water to avoid the corrosion from the previous well water.

The timeline for the overhaul is still being determined.  The City will be working with ShopCore management and the fountain’s new construction contractors to monitor the complete and timely repair.

While the fountain does not represent a safety issue, parents are urged to keep their children away from the fountain until renovations are complete.

“ShopCore appreciates the patience of the community while they work through this repair and are excited to have the fountain back up and running so the community can enjoy every aspect of the property,” said a ShopCore Properties spokesperson in a statement.

Park Village Welcomes Sweet Addition: Steel City Pops

Looking to satisfy your sweet tooth? Pop in to Southlake. From fruity and fresh to creamy and indulgent, Steel City Pops will soon be serving up its gourmet frozen pops in Park Village at 1151 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 370. The cool pop shop is expected to open in early March.

“We have actually wanted to be in Southlake for a couple years now. We have been waiting for the perfect spot and we really feel like we’ve found that! Southlake is a beautiful city with a great family-friendly vibe. We feel Southlake residents represent our loyal customer base very well,” states Ryan Childress, the general manager of Steel City Pops in Southlake.

The Southlake location will be one of 18 branches in the company-owned chain. Started by Jim Watkins and family in 2012 in Alabama, Steel City Pops has now expanded to Kentucky and Texas, with no shortage of locations in North Texas alone. Currently there are three branches each in Dallas and Fort Worth.

Dedicated to quality, Steel City Pops makes everything in small batches from fresh, natural ingredients that are certified organic and are locally-harvested where possible. All pops are sweetened with raw, organic cane sugar and are free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. All of the pops are gluten-free and vegetarian, and the fruity choices are even vegan-friendly.

With each branch offering a menu unique to its location, as well as seasonal flavors and Pop of the Month, there is always something new to try at Steel City Pops. The featured flavor in January was Salted Caramel Apple. A few tasty flavors found at DFW area locations include Blood Orange, Champagne White Tea, Pineapple Jalapeno, Black Sesame Seed, Chocolate with Peanut Butter, Maple Bacon with Bourbon, and Root Beer Float.

“We will be offering a discounted rate on our pops for the opening event. Be looking for information on that on our social media,” stated Childress.

For additional details about Steel City Pops, please visit their website.

Steel City Pops_Cookie Pop

This article was provided by Tracy Southers with WordPlay, LLC.