Surrey is getting a new $90,000 piece of public art, but some are questioning whether that’s a good investment for a city struggling with crime and drug overdoses.
The project will get a sculpture installed at a new roundabout at 156th Street and 108th Avenue in Fraser Heights, part of the Fraser Heights Greenway expansion project.
A concrete foundation for the artwork has already been installed.
The city says the artwork is to be highly visible and create interest within the traffic circle, but be appropriate for an active intersection.
The artwork should also be low maintenance.
The $90,000 budget will cover all costs including artist fees, design, materials, insurance, all engineering expenses, fabrication, delivery, installation, travel and taxes.
The city is currently asking for professional artists or artist teams to submit their ideas for the project. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 1.
Harv Gill, who lives across the street from the roundabout, says the site has been sitting empty for the last six months or so.
“We are eager to see what comes next,” he says. “It has to be pleasing to the eye in some way or another.”
Some residents tell Global News they have reservations about the spending given other problems facing the neighbourhood.
They city experienced a wave of violent crime in April seeing four shootings in four days despite the addition of nearly 100 RCMP officers, and a recent spike in overdoses has prompted a warning from health officials.
“I don’t think it’s really necessary,” another resident told Global News. “Build another bridge before you build some art. I think it’s a waste. Spend it on daycare and education.”
Others say the location is also questionable for a project with a $90,000 price tag.
The City of Surrey told Global News it is about creating a gateway to the Fraser Heights Community.
“We really looked at the space that we had and we wanted to achieve a piece of public art that could be seen from a distance,” said General Manager of Parks, Recreation & Culture at the City of Surrey Laurie Cavan.
The money for the project is a 50-50 split of tax dollars and cash developers have to fork over to build in the city.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says it’s not about public art, but spending priorities.
“Safety issues, health issues, all the different things facing the City of Surrey, to blow $90,000 on a random roundabout public art project doesn’t make any sense,” said Jordan Bateman with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
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