Project Information

Bid Title

Public Art at Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center

Issuing Agency

City of Durham

Location

North Carolina

Published Date

Nov 10, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 15, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

26-0098

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	26-0098
Bid Title:	Public Art at Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center
Category:	Requests for Proposals/Qualifications and Services
Status:	Open

Description: **** Pre-Submittal Meeting date, time, via ZOOM:  Thursday December 4, 2025, at 12:00 PM: Zoom Meeting Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7xaEDQSXStKqyQ4Y-GxDFQ **** **** RFI date, time, via EMAIL:  Monday December 15, 2025, by 11:59 PM - submit to - Submittable (see link in RFI) **** Publication Date/Time: 11/10/2025 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 12/15/2025 11:59 PM Contact Person: Stephanie Minor [email protected] Related Documents: Public Art at Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center RFI_final for release 11-7-2025

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@CreativeDurham

Arts@DurhamNC.Gov

DurhamNC.Gov/5442

Public Art at

Merrick-Moore Park

Aquatics Center

Request for Interest (RFI)

CALL FOR

ARTISTS

Call for Artists: Request for Interest (RFI)

Public Art at Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center

Date Issued: November 10, 2025

RFI Deadline to Apply: December 15, 2025

The City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program (referred to as “City”) is seeking an Artist, Artist Team, or

Artist and Fabricator Team (referred to as “Candidates”) with experience in creating site-specific public art

installations at the upcoming Aquatics Center, located at the former Wheels Fun Park site on North Hoover

Road in Durham, North Carolina, 27703. This project is part of a broader initiative to revitalize East Durham and

Merrick-Moore Park, transforming the area into a vibrant recreational hub. The total budget allocated for this

public art installation is $375,000, encompassing all aspects of the project from design through to installation.

The selected artist will be under contract from 2026 through 2030.

The selected Artist(s) may be encouraged to propose more than one artistic element as part of a cohesive site-

wide vision. Multiple installations, such as a combination of sculptural works, mosaics, fountains, or interactive

components, may be proposed throughout the site, provided the total cost remains within the all-inclusive

budget. Material options may include bronze, stainless steel, tempered glass, ceramics, durable composites, or

other materials that fit the project requirements.

Preliminary site rendering

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20. Project Manager and Contact with City; Questions about this RFI.................................................................. 3

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND NATURE OF RFI........................................................................................................ 3

30. Project .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

31. Site Description ................................................................................................................................................ 4

32. Project Background .......................................................................................................................................... 4

33. Community Engagement.................................................................................................................................. 5

40. Scope of Work .................................................................................................................................................. 6

50. Project Budget and Compensation Amount .................................................................................................... 7

60. Definitions in this RFI: City, RFI, Proposal, Candidate, Contractor, Should ..................................................... 8

70. Contract ............................................................................................................................................................ 8

70.1 Interpretation and translation services ......................................................................................................... 9

100. Insurance Requirements of Selected Candidate(s) ........................................................................................ 9

110. Discretion of the City...................................................................................................................................... 9

SCHEDULE................................................................................................................................................................. 10

120. Proposed Schedule ....................................................................................................................................... 10

140. Deadline to Receive Submissions ................................................................................................................. 10

GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND RFI PROCESS ..................................................................... 10

150. Questions...................................................................................................................................................... 10

151. Pre-submittal Meeting ................................................................................................................................. 11

EVALUATION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................................. 11

180. Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................................................................ 11

190. Call for Artists/RFI Eligibility ......................................................................................................................... 12

200. Project Partners............................................................................................................................................ 12

240. RFI Submission RequirementsThe RFI submissions shall include the following: ......................................... 14

300. Candidate to Bear Expense; No Claims against City .................................................................................... 16

310. State Treasurer’s lists regarding Iran and Boycott of Israel ......................................................................... 16

320. Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act ....................................................................................... 16

330. Values of City of Durham regarding Treatment of Employees of Contractors ............................................ 16

Sample Artist Contract and Non-Collusion Affidavit................................................................................................ 18

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20. Project Manager and Contact with City; Questions about this RFI

Direct questions and concerns to:

Attn: Stephanie Minor

Cultural & Public Art Program

General Services Department

2011 Fay Street

Durham, NC 27704

(919) 560-4197, ext. 21243

stephanie.minor@durhamnc.gov

If you have concerns about this RFI that you believe are not being addressed by the project manager, please

contact:

Attn: Rebecca Holmes

Cultural & Public Art Program Manager

General Services Department

2011 Fay Street

Durham, NC 27704

(919) 560-4197, ext. 21245

rebecca.holmes@durhamnc.gov

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND NATURE OF RFI

30. Project

The City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program (referred to as “City”) is seeking an Artist, Artist Team, or

Artist and Fabricator Team (referred to as “Candidates”) with experience in creating site-specific public art

installations at the upcoming Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center at 715 Hoover Rd, Durham, NC 27703.

Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center will be the most inclusively designed public water park in Durham.

Designed directly from Durham residents' feedback gathered by Durham Parks & Recreation Aquatics Center

Project Engagement, this park and multi-pool aquatic center will feature state-of-the-art design and fun features

including zero-depth entry, a lazy river, and pool space for recreation swimming for all ages and abilities. It will

be located next door to Wheels Roller Rink at Merrick-Moore Park, activating this section of East Durham and

completing the transformation of Merrick-Moore Park from once vacant land and abandoned buildings to a

recreational complex serving a historically underserved area of Durham and the region as a whole.

City of Durham voters approved a bond during the November 2024 election allowing the City to borrow $85

million for Parks and Recreation projects in our community, including $43 million dollars for the Aquatics Center.

This public art project is funded by the City of Durham’s Percent-for-Art Program, allowing a public art budget of

up to 1% of the overall project design and construction budget.

The goals of this public art installation are to:

• Enhance the visitor experience: Create an engaging and visually striking art installation that

complements the aquatic environment and enhances the overall visitor experience.

• Reflect community identity: incorporate elements that resonate with the diverse communities of

East Durham, celebrating local culture, history, and values.

• Ensure durability and safety: utilize materials and design solutions that are durable, safe, and

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suitable for a water-rich, high-traffic public space.

The selected Candidate(s) will work to:

• engage the community and residents of all of Durham with a focus on East Durham through in-

person engagement sessions;

• develop community-informed designs for public artwork that visually connects to the site and/or

recognizes historical and/or cultural aspects of the site;

• aim to beautify areas that are collaboratively identified by the community, City staff, and the

artist(s);

• identify and hire 3–5 local emerging or mid-career artists to collaborate on design, fabrication, and

community engagement; and

• design, fabricate, and install site-specific artwork that is integrated into the site.

For more information on this project visit: https://www.durhamnc.gov/5442

31. Site Description

The Aquatics Center will occupy the redeveloped site at the former Wheels Fun Park, transforming nearly 9

acres of underutilized land into an inclusive community hub. Strategically located across from the recently

completed Merrick-Moore Park and accessible via Hoover Road, the center will serve East Durham

neighborhoods and draw visitors from across the region. The site’s topography and history as a long-standing

recreation venue offered unique design opportunities to integrate terraced landscapes, natural stormwater

features, and community gathering areas.

Designed through an extensive community engagement process led by Durham Parks & Recreation, the

proposed facility may include features such as a lap pool, lazy river, zero-entry play pool, splash areas, and water

slides, along with flexible gathering spaces, walking trails, and connections to the nearby Merrick-Moore Park. In

addition to its aquatics components, the site may feature a central green, shaded picnic areas, interactive play

elements, seating terraces, and event spaces. Safe pedestrian connections and enhanced crossings are also

envisioned to link the facility with Merrick-Moore Park, offering a seamless recreational experience once designs

are finalized. Final designs are still in development, and these concepts are subject to change.

In alignment with the City’s Equitable Community Engagement Blueprint, the project reflects local values of

cultural representation, health and wellness, and investment in underserved areas. The preservation of Wheels,

the iconic indoor skating rink, honors the legacy of Wheels Fun Park while introducing a new vision for public

space that centers joy, connectivity, and multigenerational activity.

The project is currently in the site design phase, with completion anticipated by 2030.

32. Project Background

The Merrick-Moore Park Aquatics Center is part of the City of Durham’s vision to reimagine aquatics and

recreation in East Durham. This project stems from key priorities identified in the 2017 Durham Aquatics

Facilities Master Plan, which emphasized the need to replace aging infrastructure, improve geographic equity in

facility access, and provide modern aquatic amenities that serve diverse community needs. Specifically, the plan

highlighted East Durham as a priority zone due to the declining condition of the Long Meadow Pool (now

permanently closed), demographic shifts, and historically underserved recreational needs in the area.

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 711510Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers

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