Three zones in Boones Ferry Park where new public art may be located. (Submitted by city of Wilsonville)

Following the accessible playground that opened this year, Boones Ferry Park will soon have another new feature.

The Wilsonville Arts, Culture and Heritage Commission is searching for an artist to make a piece for the park. Following the theme “Essence of the River,” the artist will have a $100,000 budget and some flexibility on art location, according to the Request for Qualifications document. The artist can choose to have separate art pieces across three designated zones in the park or create one piece of art in a single location.

The Willamette River and surrounding nature serve as inspiration for the theme and the project ties in with goals set in the park’s 2018 master plan to better connect the site to the river and its history. Boones Ferry Park is home to the historic Tauchman House, where an operator of the Boones Ferry used to live. Many years ago, the ferry was used for transportation across the Willamette.

“The thought is to tie in the public art to this overall river theme,” said Wilsonville Arts & Culture Program Coordinator Erika Valentine at a November commission meeting. She added that the theme is intentionally worded to focus on broader connection with the Willamette rather than the history of river traveling specifically.

More information on the project, and how artists can apply, can be found on the city’s website.