WELLEN PARK — A new two-story steel sculpture is coming to the new roundabout at Wellen Park.
Others will follow.
The first, however, is a 22-foot-tall structure that will weigh a little over a ton and will be placed in the middle of the brand new Mezzo Street roundabout, which opened in April.
It depicts the Wellen Park logo, which is sun beams going down toward water.
A plan for the coming sculpture has been in the works for years. A contract to construct it was signed by H&H signs in 2022.
It was set to be installed last summer, but the Florida Department of Transportation — which is reworking that segment of Tamiami Trail — has delayed "a lot out there," according to John T. Hinshaw, the manager of H&H Signs in Venice.
State officials told him the statue, which is 16 feet wide, must be able to withstand winds of 175 miles per hour. A tall task, he said.
That, among other logistics, caused delays.
According to Hinshaw, the wait was worth it in the end, though, as this was one of the most exciting projects of his 27-year career.
When the installation time comes, and a crane is needed to place it, Hinshaw said. A number of furniture pads will be used to avoid scuffing up the masterpiece.
The sculpture itself took eight weeks to construct. It is currently in Sarasota, getting the final touches done.
It will come back bronze in color. Then installation can begin.
The figure is slated to have its base put on Wednesday. Within two weeks after that, the sculpture "should" be up and ready, Hinshaw said.
"Hopefully," he said, with cautious optimism.
Hinshaw and his staff are also hopeful that no one hits the structure.
He said doing so would do serious damage to a car, given its weight and sturdiness. Any dents on the long-awaited piece would not be ideal either, he said.
On top of weighing a ton, the sculpture "tail," of sorts is going to be slid into a hole in the ground.
"It's not going anywhere," Hinshaw said.
There are further plans to add even more large sculptures in and around Wellen Park.
Another 22-foot-tall sculpture, and then one by Gran Paradiso, that is 15 feet tall, are set to be erected in the area.
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