Champaign Parks Foundation Purchases Sculpture

 

“Double Dutch-a Jump for Joy” by artist Gary Bibbs of Lexington, KY, will now remain a permanent
fixture in West Side Park thanks to a gift left to the Champaign Parks Foundation by the late Michael
Carragher.

During their April Board meeting the Champaign Parks Foundation agreed to purchase the
sculpture for $32,500. The sculpture will be purchased from the Public Art League formed in 2010 to
promote public art in the form of a permanent sculpture collection in and around Champaign County.

“Double Dutch-a Jump for Joy” is a 16 foot tall, 24 foot wide sculpture created in 2008 made from
stainless steel tubing and bronze. It currently resides at the juncture of Park and State Streets in West
Side Park and is sponsored by First Federal Savings Bank of Champaign Urbana. The artist ex-
plained that his inspiration in creating the sculpture came from his observations of the joy, happiness
and innocence of children at play.

The sculpture was installed in West Side Park last August as one of the first sculptures the Public Art
League initiated and was to remain in the park for a minimum of two years at which time the lease
would either be renewed or the sculpture would be replaced with another. According to Bobbie Hera-
kovich, Champaign Park District Executive Director, “The Champaign Park District felt this sculpture
was a beautiful addition to West Side Park with its graceful arch welcoming park users from the east.
Additionally, the artists’ intent is not lost on the Park District as “Double Dutch” promotes joyful memo-
ries of youth as does the Park District. Its location, directly east of “Tootsie”, another sculpture do-
nated by Michael Carragher, makes it a perfect fit for the funds left by Michael to add more art to West
Side Park.”