The Bowie berm is still in limbo after three years of discussions and survey feedback from residents, with the city trying to figure out whether to go local or hire outside help for a replacement. I think sticking with a local artist who listens to public input is the way to go.

Here are the highlights:

  • Jim from Yorktown inquired about the replacement of the Bowie berm.
  • The city has been exploring replacement options for three years due to a pervasive soil disease affecting the berm.
  • Initial proposals from local artists received negative feedback from residents.
  • A new call for artist proposals was issued, but survey responses remained largely negative.
  • The city has two options: choose a less favorable alternative or hire an outside professional.
  • The author prefers to work with a local artist to incorporate public feedback and achieve a satisfactory result.
  • The final design must correctly spell ‘BOWIE’ and be visually appealing.

Originally Published on April 11, 2023Last Modified on April 11, 2023

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Reader Question: Bowie Berm Burns

Jim from Yorktown wrote in this week to say: "I keep getting invited to take surveys on the Bowie berm. Is that ever going to get replaced?"

Jim, I've been asking myself the same questions for almost three years! And trust me, you're not alone–I get a version of this question every two weeks.

Three years ago, the city first began exploring a replacement for the Bowie berm, the large natural Bowie sign on 197 north of 50 near Tasker.

The berm is located in an area with a pervasive soil disease. After years of trying and failing to keep the berm healthy and attractive, the city put out a call for local artists to come up with an alternative concept.

When the city first published the initial proposals, resident feedback was less than positive. While most residents agreed about wanting to replace the berm, there was no consensus on an acceptable alternative.

Taking initial resident feedback into account, and still wanting to work with someone local, the city put out a fresh call for artist proposals and conducted a new survey on those proposals last month. Again, survey responses were pretty negative.

As things stand, the city has two options: pick one of the least worst alternatives and work with the artist to adjust their proposal to fit public feedback; or, spend a small fortune on an outside-the-area professional to try and come up with something residents can get behind.

The city has hired a lot of consultants for various projects over the years. While they often come up with interesting ideas, they're not as good at delivering a public consensus.

My personal preference is to stick with a local person and have them do their best to incorporate public feedback. At the end of the day, the end result needs to correctly spell "BOWIE" and look presentable. I'm confident we can achieve that much without waiting another three years or breaking the bank.

Have thoughts on the berm? Write me at mesteve@cityofbowie.org.