Carlsbad Arts Commission approves final design for Veterans Memorial Park public art

The Carlsbad Arts Commission unanimously approved the final design for public art at Veterans Memorial Park at its Aug. 7, 2025, meeting, advancing a site-specific sculpture by Gordon Huether Studios toward City Council review and later fabrication.

The vote followed a presentation from city staff and the artist that summarized a multi-year park planning process and two phases of community input. Nick Stupin, the city’s parks planning manager, told commissioners the project site encompasses “just under 94 acres, and so it's 93.7 acres,” and that the park will retain more than half of that area as natural open space. The public-art element will sit in a landscaped ellipse near the park’s northern Veterans Memorial Plaza, which will include memorial panels acknowledging the six branches of the military and an American flag at its center.

Public-engagement data played a role in the recommendation. Crystal Roa, the city program manager for cultural arts, said an in-person and online survey conducted April 24–June 4 drew about “589 respondents,” of whom “59% of them identified as veterans or affiliated veterans” and “88% reside in Carlsbad.” Roa said those responses favored the artist’s “ring” schematic over two alternatives and that staff and the artist made revisions to increase accessibility, create a clearer military connection in the overall site narrative, and address safety concerns.

Artist Gordon Huether described the selected concept as a weathering-steel (Corten) ring composed of several vertical steel elements intended to frame views and offer a place for reflection. Huether said the design is “not meant to be an overt, military, memorial” — noting that the park’s formal Memorial Plaza is intended to serve that function — and that the ring will be wide enough for wheelchairs. Speaking about scale, Huether said, “I think 16, somewhere around 16 feet would be pretty sweet,” while acknowledging final size will be refined in engineering and the design-development phase.

Stupin and the artist addressed durability and public-safety details in response to commissioners’ questions. The artist and staff said raised edges and the structure’s geometry are intended to limit climbing, skateboarding and other misuse. Huether also said decisions about foundation, paving and final dimensions will be resolved in engineering and landscape design steps that follow Council approval.

City staff outlined the next steps and timing: the Arts Commission’s approval moves a recommendation to the City Council; upon council approval the city will enter procurement and fabrication phases with the artist. Huether estimated fabrication and coordination would take “8 to 12 months” in total, while Stupin said construction of the park itself is projected at roughly “18, 24 months” and that the sculpture installation will be coordinated with site grading and construction management.

Commissioner Michelle Ferroni made the motion to accept the final design; Commissioner Briar Breyer seconded. The motion passed by show-of-hands vote and was recorded as unanimously approved by the six commissioners present.

The commission’s approval covers the artwork schematic, general orientation on the site, and direction to staff to carry the design forward for council consideration and subsequent contract, fabrication and installation coordination. Staff said final engineering, foundation design and landscape details will be completed in the design-development and construction phases and that the Parks and Recreation department will coordinate installation logistics.

No public speakers were recorded on the item during the meeting. The commission’s action does not constitute a final construction authorization; it is a recommendation to send the selected design forward to City Council and to proceed with the procurement/fabrication process.