Visitors to Long’s Park are now greeted by a pair of colorful bouquet-like steel sculptures gracing the pillars on either side of the main entrance.
Installed late last week, they are the work of Lititz-based artist Matthew Leavell, who donated them to the Long’s Park Amphitheater Foundation.
They are dedicated “to the tireless volunteers who produce the Long’s Park Art Festival each Labor Day weekend” and intended to reflect “gratitude and celebration of our beautiful city and region,” Leavell said in a statement.
Foundation board member had initially approached Leavell about installing his artwork at the park in connection with the nonprofit’s 60th anniversary in 2022. That didn’t work out, but Leavell revisited the idea last summer.
Leavell moved to Lancaster County in 2020 and said the festival was part of the reason. It’s on par with some of the nation’s top events, he said, saying Lancaster “is punching way above its weight class.”
The sculptures are valued between $15,000 and $25,000. The city of Lancaster assisted in preparing the entrance for their installation.
