Coral Springs announces plans to remove longtime public sculpture Cosmological Principle due to escalating repair costs
Coral Springs, Florida – After more than a decade as a fixture at Betti Stradling Park, the city of Coral Springs has announced plans to remove the large metal sculpture Cosmological Principle due to escalating repair costs that now exceed the original purchase price.
The sculpture, created in 2012 by Hanna Jubran, an Israeli-born artist based in North Carolina, has long been a striking visual landmark near the park entrance at 10301 Wiles Road. Its red and blue geometric metal design drew attention from residents and visitors alike, serving as a prominent piece in the city’s public art collection.
City meeting minutes reveal that restoring the sculpture would cost an estimated $11,400, surpassing the combined total of its initial purchase and prior restoration efforts, which amounted to $10,066. Based on this financial analysis, the Coral Springs Public Art Committee voted to decommission the piece.
The formal de-accession process will soon begin, including notifying the artist of the removal, according to city staff. While the decision ends the sculpture’s more than ten-year presence in the park, officials emphasized that the choice was driven by practical considerations rather than the artwork’s artistic value.
“Cosmological Principle” was originally acquired through the city’s Public Art Fund, which is funded by impact fees from new development projects rather than tax dollars. Over the years, the city undertook several maintenance efforts to preserve the sculpture, but ongoing repair costs eventually became unsustainable.
Jubran is recognized for multimedia sculptures that explore concepts such as time, balance, and movement, and Cosmological Principle reflected these themes in its bold geometric forms. The removal of the sculpture marks the end of one chapter in Coral Springs’ public art program, which has sought to enhance the city’s cultural landscape through permanent and rotating installations.
No replacement artwork has yet been announced for the Betti Stradling Park location. City officials have stated that decisions regarding new installations will consider both artistic value and long-term maintenance feasibility, ensuring future pieces are sustainable while enriching public spaces.
The announcement has prompted mixed reactions from the community. Some residents expressed disappointment at the loss of a familiar landmark, while others understood the financial reasoning behind the decision. Public art advocates note that costly maintenance is a common challenge for outdoor sculptures, particularly those made from metals exposed to the elements over time.
Coral Springs officials have indicated that the Public Art Committee will continue evaluating the city’s collection and seeking opportunities to expand public engagement with art, even as Cosmological Principle is retired. For more than a decade, the sculpture stood as a testament to creativity and community enrichment, and its removal serves as a reminder of the practical realities involved in maintaining public art.
As the city prepares to decommission the sculpture, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to reflect on its contribution to the park’s atmosphere and to anticipate new opportunities for artistic expression in Coral Springs’ public spaces.
