Turtle, panther, alligator and other Florida animals take a seat in new bronze artwork at reopened Coral Springs park
Coral Springs, Florida – A group of unusual Florida residents has found a permanent home at Pride Promoters Park, where a newly installed bronze sculpture brings together a turtle, rabbit, panther, alligator and hawk in one colorful public art display.
The city recently celebrated the reopening of the renovated park at 4391 Riverside Drive. One of the most noticeable changes is Wild Connections, a bronze artwork featuring five native Florida animals sitting together on a bench.
The sculpture gives each animal its own personality. A turtle holds a camera, while a rabbit appears to be playing a flute. Nearby, a panther and an alligator each hold an ice cream cone. A hawk sits among them with a book.
The installation was created as a permanent piece of public art for the park and is expected to give visitors another reason to stop, look and interact with the space.
Earlier this year, Coral Springs residents were invited to take part in choosing names for the five animals. The city’s public art committee had narrowed the options to three possible names for each character before asking the community for input.
The sculpture was financed through the city’s public art fund. That fund is supported by fees collected from new development projects and major renovations. Officials said the funding for the artwork was separate from the money used to renovate the park itself.
The new artwork is only one part of the changes at Pride Promoters Park, which was originally built in the 1990s.
The renovation also brought an accessible playground to the park, giving children with different abilities a new place to play. The basketball court was renovated as well, and outdoor fitness equipment was added for people looking to exercise while spending time outdoors.
The overall park renovation was estimated at $345,000. Of that amount, $225,000 came from federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
The project did not finish as quickly as originally expected. Work had initially been scheduled to wrap up in February, but the reopening was delayed while crews completed the new asphalt basketball court.
The newly installed surface also needed time to cure before the court could be painted and put back into full use. That additional work pushed the reopening beyond the original schedule.
With the project now complete, the park has returned with improvements aimed at recreation, accessibility, fitness and community use.
The Wild Connections sculpture adds a different element to the renovation. Instead of simply providing another facility for visitors, the artwork creates a gathering point featuring familiar Florida wildlife in a playful setting.
The animals also reflect the city’s effort to bring public art into everyday community spaces. Visitors heading to the playground, basketball court or fitness equipment will now encounter the sculpture as part of their trip through the park.
For children, the artwork offers an opportunity to spot the different animals and notice the small details, from the turtle’s camera to the hawk’s book. For adults, it provides another piece of public art in a neighborhood park.
The reopening celebration marked the completion of a project that took longer than expected but ultimately brought several new features to Pride Promoters Park.
Now, alongside the renovated recreation areas and accessible playground, five bronze animals have taken their seats on a bench and are ready to become one of the park’s newest landmarks.
