Parking meter public art project gets city approval
Helena’s City Commission on Monday agreed with a novel way to add public art to the community and raise money for city services and local nonprofit groups.
A half dozen surplus parking meters will be converted from drab steel gray to become something far more colorful as works of art that will benefit city facilities and four nonprofit organizations.
“It should be a great way to increase our public art and raise some money for some good causes,” said Commissioner Katherine Haque-Hausrath, who proposed the concept for the city’s consideration.
She said she got the idea after seeing it done in Laguna Beach, Calif.
“It’s the kind of thing that tourists are interested in,” she added.
“Even if it doesn’t raise a lot, as far as promoting public arts and the nonprofits, it will be an important community service,” Haque-Hausrath said after the meeting.
The parking meters, City Manager Ron Alles said, will accept nickels, dimes and quarters.
The Helena Public Art Committee will work with the Holter Museum of Art to select the artists and decide how the meters will be painted.
The meters will be a way for the city to use voluntary donations to help support popular services such as Helena’s new dog park, Paws Park, where dogs are allowed to run and romp off leash; the Civic Center; and the Mount Helena trailhead.
One of the meters will be used to support the art committee’s volunteer work on behalf of the city, Alles said.
The museum, according to the city resolution that made the project possible, will identify the nonprofit organizations to receive the meters.
Vivian Hayes, chairwoman with the Public Art Committee, said before the commission meeting that the committee is planning to paint one of the meters, as it has several artists among its members.
The meters, she said, would give the public greater awareness of the committee — a volunteer organization.
“We’re known as the best little art town, that is the motto of Helena.”
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