The Sarasota City Public Art Committee voted Nov. 5 to select "Swing," a proposed sculptural work by Michael DeCarlo, for installation in the interior courtyard of the Paine Park Tennis Center.

Staff said the call for artists received 45 applications and was juried by facility managers, Parks leadership and community patrons. The top three finalists were Michael DeCarlo (Brooklyn), Alex Kaufman (St. Petersburg) and Alex Litigovsky (Oxford, U.K.). Staff reported strong engagement from Tennis Center patrons: an Engagement HQ survey gathered 181 responses, including 136 from regular tennis patrons, and "Swing" was the plurality preference.

DeCarlos proposal, described in staff materials as a spiraling array of racket-like forms that rotate around a central spine, was presented to the committee along with renderings and material notes. Committee members and staff discussed finish options and coatings suitable for a coastal environment; staff and the committee recommended exploring higher-performance coatings rather than standard paint to reduce long-term maintenance.

A motion to approve moving forward with "Swing" passed unanimously. Staff said next steps include refining the site plan, confirming coatings and materials with the artist and returning with fabrication and installation timelines and a final cost estimate.