Title
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 24-22 EXTENDING THE INSTALLATION OF “MELODY” FOR AN ADDITIONAL 18 MONTHS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Brief Description: The Mayor and staff wish to extend Melody’s (large bird sculpture) and the 365-Day Kindness Garden stay on the Park Lane/Merino Green by 18 months, alongside the return of 150 smaller birds art exhibit in Spring/Summer 2026. The project continues to promote a sense of community through kindness.
Body
Legislative History
22-88 (passed 7/19/22); 24-22 (passed 2/20/24); 25-0039 (discussion item 3/18/25)
Purpose & Explanation
Background - Birdsong Project, Melody
In July 2022, the Birdsong project, a unique public art installation, throughout the Gazebo, Clocktower, and South (Ravenna St.) greens received a one-year approval from Council to display 150 small bird sculptures hand-painted by local artists. Resolution 22-88 (19July2022). As a part of this project, Melody, a larger bird exhibit, which was adorned with hundreds of small tiles painted by residents of all ages and housed on the Park Lane Green was installed in the Spring of 2023. Melody’s stay on the Park Lane green was extended in 2024 to run through the end of April 2025 via Resolution 24-22 and 3 planters filled with painted Kindness rocks were added and dedicated to the community in the Spring of 2024 with Art class students from both Seton and the Hudson City Middle School in attendance.
Expanded Project Scope
Locally and with Rome, Italy While the 150 small birds were removed from the Clocktower, Gazebo and South (Ravenna St.) greens in the Spring of 2024, they have since been on display around the local area. Their first stop was in downtown Cuyahoga Falls, then at the Akron Art Museum and now currently at the Summit County Library. Future locations are being planned with the desire to bring the small birds back to the downtown Hudson greens for their final stop. The Birdsong project has also expanded globally and small, painted, 2D, metal birds have travelled to Rome, Italy and are currently hanging from an ancient magnolia tree in the courtyard of a library, as coordinated by Door2Art and with contributions from local artists in Rome and the nearby suburb of Alatri.
Continued Community Engagement Locally and with Landsberg, Germany
Door2Art would also like to propose a desire for the small, 2D, metal birds to be considered for a collaboration project with Hudson’s Sister-City in Landsberg, Germany, with the hope that local artist there could paint and hang the birds in Landsberg as both a further extension of the Birdsong project, but to also continue as a unique way to connect the cities of Hudson Ohio and Landsberg Germany through public art. The cost of the metal birds would be covered by Door2Art, and the Mayor has physical examples available for viewing. The purpose of the 365- Day Kindness rock garden remains as a compliment to Melody and the Birdsong project. All aspects continue to create an increased sense of community and promote acts of kindness. Door2Art would also like to once again involve Hudson’s local merchants to help promote the project and drive more awareness and foot traffic to Hudson’s downtown. In addition, Door2Art is supplying plain rocks and all paint supplies during the 2025 Earth Day event, so that residents can decorate and paint rocks to refill the 365-Day Kindness Garden.
Legal Authority for Proposed Legislation
Pursuant to Charter Section 6.04, Contracts & Purchasing:
Competitively bid and advertised for two consecutive weeks; bid tab attached: [Yes/No/NA])
Joint or Cooperative Purchase Program
Professional Services
Other [provide explanation]
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted (Account #, $)
Supplemental Appropriation Required (Account #, $)
X Appropriation Not Required
Does this legislation require use of an emergency clause?
x Yes; the prior extension is through the end of April, 2025.
_ No
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends passage of the Resolution to extend Melody and the 365-Day Kindness Rock Garden on the Park Lane/Merino Green by 18 months with the 150 smaller “Bird Song” exhibits returning in Spring/Summer 2026.
Submitted by,
Thomas J. Sheridan, City Manager
Brian Griffith, Asst City Manager
Greg Hannan, Community Development Director
Jena Stasik, Community Relations Manager