West-sider Rita Pressnall first heard about the project from an Eagle reporter. There, ladies and gentlemen, is the crux of the matter. Wichita is a wonderful place, but it lacks overwhelming natural beauty, to put it gently. More than almost any other city of its heft in this part of the world, Wichita needs, as Ms. Pressnall put it, artful enhancement. More to come Fortunately, though this may disgust many good citizens, Wichita will continue to get artful enhancement using our tax money.
Public art is now a part of the planning process for every significant public-works project.
Good citizens, think not of all the potholes that could be repaired with the money for such artful enhancement. Think of the magnificent 11th Street Bridge design by Randal Julian. Instead, it has been restored with donated materials and by volunteer labor. Randy Brown writes a personal column for the editorial page on Sundays.