The Marquette Public Art Commission (MPAC) committed $30,000 to commission an artist to design, fabricate and install a dragonfly sculpture at the entrance of the new all-inclusive Kids Cove Playground in Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park. MPAC narrowed down three finalists from a national call for artist qualifications. Artist Brian Wignall’s design was selected based on community and core stakeholder feedback, the design's overall creativity, structural engineering, safety and the artist's experience designing ADA accessible public artwork.
The goal of the sculpture is to engage residents and visitors, creating a sense of wonder and joy to reinforce the positivity of play while honoring Joani Reynolds Miller, a retired preschool teacher who had a vision of making life for children with disabilities more inclusive in our community.