Art Benches at Coral Reef Park Call to Artist

The Village of Palmetto Bay desires to select four (4) artists with proposals to design art benches that embodies the family-friendly, vibrant, peaceful, lush nature of Coral Reef Park. A total of four (4) design proposals will be selected by the AIPP Board to be recommended to the Village Council. More than one (1) design may be submitted by each artist in the application. 

The Village of Palmetto Bay has a robust Art in Public Places (AIPP) program. In addition to requiring public art or a contribution to the Public Art Fund for all commercial construction projects exceeding $250,000, the Village continuously identifies opportunities for Village initiated public art. This public art is brought before the Art-in-Public Places (AIPP) Board and often recommend art to be approved by the Village Council. The art approved by the Board and Council are placed in public areas in the Village, such as new housing developments, restaurants, and even Village property, such as traffic circles and parks. The Village, known as the “Village of Parks”, is home to some of Miami-Dade County’s most popular parks, including Coral Reef Park. The AIPP Board has often recommended artwork in parks through concession stand art and most recently our new Recreation Center at Coral Reef Park.

Situated along Coral Reef Drive and southwest 77th Avenue, next to Coral Reef Elementary School, Coral Reef Park is located in the heart of Palmetto Bay. Spanning more than fifty (50) acres, Coral Reef Park offers open green spaces, pinelands preserve areas, and the tranquil streaming canal. It is a central location for playing, walking, reading, relaxing, and picnicking. Residents also flock here for beach volleyball, tennis, baseball, an expansive and fun playground, exercise trail, and abundance of indigenous birds and other wildlife. This park serves as a main connection between the environment, the people it serves and the bonds it creates for visitors who call this place home. The park offers multiple activities including the following:

• Recreation Center
• Baseball / football fields
• Soccer Field
• Coral Reef Park Tennis Center
• Beach Volleyball
• Pickleball Courts
• Batting Cages
• Covered Playground (The Bridget Allison Pier Playground)
• Picnic Areas and Tables (available for party rentals)
• Playground Area Picnic Pavilion (available for party rentals)
• Walk / Jog Path
• Exercise Stations
• Gazebo / Bandshell (available for party rentals)
• Concession Cafe (LEED-certified building)
• The Ken Robinson Meditation Garden and Gazebo
• Picnic Areas and Tables (available for party rentals)
• Open Play Areas
• Natural Pineland Preserve
• Lectures & workshops
• Martial arts classes
• Social gatherings
• Community meetings
• Exercise classes
• Dance lessons
• Mommy and Me classes

The Village of Palmetto Bay seeks to identify an artist or artist team who will be ablet to design art benches with the following criteria:

• Specifications
  -The bench should measure between 4 feet x 8 feet.
   
• Functional Design
  -Ergonomic seating, proper backrest, and non-slip surfaces ensure safety and comfort for all ages and abilities.
  -ADA compliance is necessary.
  -Durability: Made from weather-resistant materials like composite, recycled metal, or sustainably sourced materials to withstand the South Florida climate.
   
• Village Character
  -Incorporates the identity of not only the Village, but also of the Coral Reef Parks- one of the primary destinations in the Village.
  -May include community messaging boards, planters, or kinetic features that invite public participation.
  -Carved or painted details can tell local stories or reflect community values.
   
• Sustainability and Resiliency
  -The use of environmentally conscious materials is highly encouraged. Examples could be use of reclaimed wood, mosaic tiles, recycled metals, biodegradable composites or other materials.
  -LED or solar lighting are preferred.

Location Plan
The official address of Coral Reef Park is 7895 SW 152nd St, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. Please keep in mind that artists that apply for this Call to Artist are highly recommended to visit Coral Reef Park in person. The benches are proposed to be located at the following locations as indicated by a star symbol.

Proposed Timeline: Contract approval is expected in Spring-Summer 2027 with installation in Summer-Fall 2027. This timeline is preliminary and contingent on the selection process, proposed art creation and traffic circle construction.

Deadline Date: Friday, January 22, 2027, 5:00 PM (EST)

Project Budget: The AIPP has allocated a total of $32,000 for four (4) art benches at Coral Reef Park. Each bench proposal should not exceed $8,000 in design, fabrication and installation. Proposals amounting to more than $8,000 will be subject to the Board’s selection process.

Selection Process

The selection process will include a preliminary review by the Village Manager’s Office, a review and recommendation to the Village Council by the AIPP Advisory Board, and a final selection by the Village Council. The AIPP Board will be selecting the proposals based off of the four (4) mandatory elements stated above based off a forty (40) point total system as shown below:

For full application and attachments, please see website below: 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/297/Opportunities-for-Artists

Application Process

A complete application consists of the following four items. Please be sure to clearly state name, address, email, phone, and website on all documents. All documents must be submitted electronically as PDFs.   

• Brief Artist Statement
  • Maximum length one (1) page describe your medium, approach to your work and highlight any specific experience or collaborations that you feel may align with the proposed scope of work.
  • If you are applying as a team, include a one (1) page Artist Statement for all team members.
• Professional CV/Resume
  • Maximum length two (2) pages
  • If you are applying as a team, include resumés for all team members (Maximum length of each resume is two (2) pages.
• Digital Proposals/Renderings of the Coral Reef Park Art Bench
  • The rendering should include the following information:
  • Title of Work
  • Medium
  • Dimensions
  • 1-2 sentences of explanatory text

For additional information contact:

Andrea Candelaria

Sustainability & Resiliency Planner

305-259-1238

For full application and attachments, please see website below: 

https://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/297/Opportunities-for-Artists

This opportunity is open to all artists only located in the state of Florida. The Village is open to hiring both emerging and established artists, individuals and artist-led teams, and artists working with a wide variety of mediums, who have completed projects for private clients, public agencies or for grassroots/community projects. Artist teams of any size may apply. Women, minorities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Prior Public Art experience is not a requirement. The Village reserves the right to reject all submittals.