The "planned "cancer "survivors" plaza from the R.A. Bloch Foundation (H&R Block) for Town Lake Park at Butler Park comes with history and a previous rejection - dating back to 1996 - by Austin's City Council. In 2009, again, this gift again calls into question how art and donations are vetted through the community process, and how the community determines development of our parkland.

Issues surrounding this proposed gift calls into question the "proposed" site's location, the donor's specified requirements, the Arts Commission's approach to art in Town Lake Park, the 1996 Proposition 11 - Redevelopment Bond, and the history of delay in approach to the Town Lake Master Plan. Click here to review the history.

The Bloch Foundation has built 23 such plazas nationwide, including in Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans, and has plans for 49 more. Austin will be number 24. Each plaza is required to have certain features, including a bronze sculpture with figures walking through a maze that symbolizes cancer, and their designs vary considerably. Click here to see images of the bronze sculpture planned for Town Lake Park.
 
Listed below is a summary of summary of Message Points as to why members of the community, and park patrons oppose this project.

Should Austin oppose the R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation's “survivor park” proposed for Town Lake Park? You decide.

  • This donation and its timing falls outside the park's priority list for infrastructure needs – lighting, irrigation, turf, and restrooms. This project is outside the scope of the 1998 Master Plan for TLP redevelopment.
  • In 1998 Austin voters approved Proposition 11 - (short-term motor vehicle rental car tax). This fund is intended to finance the TLP Master Plan. In 2006/2007 budget cycle funds from prop 11 were shifted away from the TLP Master plan and to the O&M (operations and maintenance) budget forPalmer Event Center, due to Palmer's revenue shortfall.
  • The R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation's ("R" in H&R Block) “survivor park” is franchised art disguised as a concept gift. Presently, there are 23 existing locations; Austin will be location 24; with 49 planned total.
  • Cancer survivors who oppose this project question why $1m dollars proposed for a park addition is not directed towards cancer research instead.
  • The $1m dollars is available to the Austin community under conditions set forth by the R.A. Bloch Foundation. Specific criteria must be be met regarding the site's messaging and bronze artwork.
  • Called into question is should 1.5 acres of prime Town Lake Park land be set aside in the name of one disease? Should Town Lake Park be opened up for these type gifts?
  • The City of Austin, through the its Arts in Public Places (AiPP), has a Public Artwork Donation & Loan Policy - specific to Town Lake Park - which was adopted by the Austin Arts Commission in 2003.  
  • The Public Artwork Donation Policy - from AiPP and concurred by the Arts Commission - and specific to Town Lake Park (which includes the Butler tract) states, “PROPOSALS FOR PRE-EXISTING ARTWORKS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.” Reference Approaches to Public Art for Town Lake Park – page 33,
  • Survivor Park History - In 1996, the first time gift was proposed it was determined funding would fall short of proposed goals. The project proposes to set aside $100,000 of the $1m for on-going maintenance. In 1996 the maintenance costs was estimated at $30,000 annually (in 2009 dollars, over $41,000 annually).  This is an inadequate provision for maintenance, and would further burden the business model of an already tight PARD budget.
  • R.A. Cancer Foundation Cancer Survivors' Plazas in the other 23 cities have a varied history of success and maintenance. Our Arts Community is currently querying public art administrators through the Public Art Network to establish a record of the status of the other Cancer Survivor Plazas around the country. As was discovered in 1996, there were issues of neglect, inadequate maintenance budgets, and inattention from the community.
  • Final point to consider…This project was rejected in ’96 because of its proposed site at the southwest corner of Cesar Chavez and Congress Ave. Is the now proposed site within Town Lake Parka location of lesser significance?
 
Austin's Town Lake Park is the crown jewel of our park system. Since its commissioning in 1973, it has provided our community with a most magnificent backdrop to a growing skyline, a grand-stand for an entire community to sit front-row to celebrate the very best of Austin. Redevelopment of Town Lake Park is priority number one. The R.A. Cancer Foundation's Survivor Plaza is well intended, yet its $1m dollars falls low on the priority list of needs for Town Lake Park. Whether one agrees or disagrees with this proposed gift and its location, everyone is encouraged to contact city council and ask that redevelopment of Town Lake Park be made a priority.
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