Highland Village's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board discussed next steps for the City Trail tunnel art project and the city's public art master plan at its Nov. 1 meeting, after staff reported that a painted mural would require either donated artist labor or a more expensive production option.

At the meeting, parks staff said two preliminary vendor quotes to wrap one side of the tunnel arrived at $30,673 (Speed Pro) and $23,714 (Image360). Staff also told the board that the city maintains an art fund, built from booth fees collected at the city art festival, that currently holds almost $8,000 and could be requested for art initiatives.

The board's discussion focused on three practical questions: whether to pursue a painted mural that would require artist time and coordination, whether to instead commission a vinyl wall wrap with a multi‑year lifespan, and how to pay for the work. Phil (parks staff) said the vendor quotes “do not take into consideration the actual artwork that will be submitted” and that the wrap estimates are intended to provide a cost range for budgeting. He also explained the wrap material would likely last about 10 to 20 years depending on care.

Board members suggested several alternative approaches. Some members urged a community‑driven option — for example a children’s art contest or local art teacher coordination — to lower labor costs and expand participation. Others said the tunnel, while a convenient starting point because it is covered and well protected from weather, might not be the highest‑visibility location for an initial, higher‑cost installation. Several members proposed smaller, distributed pilot panels in multiple parks to test formats and public response before committing to a larger, more expensive single installation.

Board member Leslie Andrews said, "$20,000 is a lot," and urged staff to consider whether smaller, distributed installations or signage with QR codes — which could link to online galleries and fundraising — might produce more visible public engagement for less money.

Staff outlined next steps the board supported: further research on funding and partnerships (including outreach to the Greater Denton County Arts Council), development of a sponsorship/marketing packet to solicit donations or in‑kind support, and possible adjustments to the draft RFP if the board chooses to pursue an open artist call. Phil told the board the RFP framework already exists and can be revised based on the board's direction.

Board members also cautioned about staff capacity and long‑term maintenance: even a donated mural or wrap requires project coordination, installation logistics and ongoing upkeep, which would affect parks staff workload. Several members asked that staff return with more precise cost estimates for multiple-sized options, with recommended locations and a proposed timeline.

Staff said the item may be scheduled for a future work session after the holidays once outreach to local arts organizations and additional cost research are complete. The board did not take any formal vote on a final design or procurement approach at the meeting.

What’s next: staff will contact the Greater Denton County Arts Council and local arts organizations, refine cost estimates for paint vs. wrap vs. smaller panels, produce a sponsorship packet option, and return to the board with recommendations for a work session in early 2026.