The Coral Springs Public Art Committee has decided to permanently remove a prominent public sculpture from Betti Stradling Park after repair costs exceeded the artwork's original value. The large metal sculpture titled "Cosmological Principle" had been on display for more than a decade before the committee voted to decommission it due to escalating maintenance expenses.
According to official city meeting minutes, the estimated cost to restore the 2012 artwork would reach $11,400, which surpasses the combined total of its original purchase price and previous restoration work. The sculpture, along with prior repair efforts, had cost the city a total of $10,066. This financial analysis led the committee to conclude that continued maintenance was no longer economically viable.
The sculpture, created by Israeli-born artist Hanna Jubran, features a distinctive red and blue geometric metal structure that has served as a recognizable landmark near the entrance of Betti Stradling Park at 10301 Wiles Road. Jubran, who is currently based in North Carolina, is known for creating multimedia sculptures that explore themes of time, balance, and movement, according to the city's public art website.
The artwork was originally acquired in 2012 through Coral Springs' Public Art Fund, which is funded through impact fees collected from new developments rather than taxpayer dollars. This funding mechanism has allowed the city to build its public art collection without directly using tax revenue for art acquisitions.
City public art staff will now begin the formal de-accession process, which includes properly notifying the artist of the decision to remove the work from the city's official Public Art Collection. This procedural step ensures that all parties are informed and that the removal follows established protocols for handling public art.
The removal of "Cosmological Principle" marks the end of an era for one of Coral Springs' most visible public art installations. The sculpture had been a fixture at the park for over ten years, serving as both an artistic statement and a wayfinding landmark for visitors to the recreational facility.
As of now, city officials have not announced any plans for replacement artwork at the Betti Stradling Park location. The decision leaves an open question about what, if anything, might take the place of the geometric sculpture that had become part of the park's visual identity over the past decade.
