Deedee Morrison Sculpture
City of Parks Donor Wall
20L x 8H Painted Stainless Steel, Dip-tech Printed Glass and LED Lighting
Founders Park in Janesville, WI
“Trees are our mightiest metaphor for the cycle of life.“ David George Haskel - Biologist
The donor wall for ARISE Now honors the contribution of numerous donors that generously reinvested in the future of Janesville. The organic tree and glass sculpture flow seamlessly alongside the riverbank downtown. Seven endemic Wisconsin leaf species were the inspiration for the printed design on the glass. Seven tree layers are distinctively painted in organic colors that are reflected in the glass donor wall.
The laser-cut trees and three glass panels etched with donor names connect people with the importance of their natural world in the community. The sculpture honors the natural history and settlement along the banks of the Rock River, celebrating the importance of the river in everyday life.
Trees are essential to our urban landscapes: they help reduce water run-off, absorb air pollution, and decrease urban heat-island effects. Native plants provide more: they reconnect our gardens and parks to nature, support birds, pollinators, beneficial insects, and native ecosystems. Wisconsin is home to over 1,800 species of native plants. Just as in nature, healthy human ecosystems are imperative to the health and wellness of our communities.
John Nolen was a pioneer in the development of modern urban and regional planning. He developed the first comprehensive plan for the City of Janesville. His proposed ideas included naturalistic open spaces, contoured streets and gateways, and neighborhood elements. His ideas bridged a way for progression among all residents in the community. He noted the beauty of the Rock River and advocated for the establishment of parks along the riverbank. Today, Janesville is known as the "City of Parks''.
Nolen was a visionary and understood the importance of parks as a community asset. There is direct correlation between the amount of trees and grass in community common spaces and the use of those common spaces by residents, which leads to more opportunities for informal social interaction and greater relationships between neighbors. Nolen suggested that the banks along the entire length of the Rock River be turned into parks and pleasure drives, and that land undesirable for building be developed into large multipurpose urban parks.