The new sculptures downtown look fabulous. They are definitely an enhancement to the community, as well as the other sculptures around town.
Our courthouse lawn already has several, including the Civil War soldier, who is always looking south, to protect from our own enemy.
It’s great that individuals in the town are taking initiative to improve the community. We have several talented metal artists that work right here in our own county.
Art expands the mind and relaxes the soul. We are blessed with peacefulness here and wide open spaces. We should take advantage of that.
What we have now enhances the community so much, perhaps we can add a few more and become known as a community with beautiful art.
This would attract tourists downtown where they might also drop in to shop or eat a meal or buy some wine.
The fountain on tenth street looks great. Maybe we could use another fountain on the courthouse square.
The pear trees that were added a few years ago downtown have made it attractive, and the new birdhouses, interesting.
Some of the areas on the outskirts of town could sure use some improvement. Old, rusting equipment could be recycled or a fence put around it.
Some buildings downtown has the sides  covered by another building years ago. Now those old buildings have been torn down. Maybe they could be painted with a mural.
Shady trees and native flowers wouldn’t require much upkeep or maintenance, and would greatly enhance some buildings. The K-State horticultural web site has a list of plants that do well in Kansas. Trees and plants that survive blistering heat and bone chilling winds are a must.
It takes vision and imagination and thinking outside the box. What was done in the past may have been okay, but it now needs to evolve.
We are all in this together. If we make Great Bend look as attractive as possible, we can attract people to come and live here.
More sculptures, more plants, more art equals more people.
Karen La Pierre