Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park Ongoing

The Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park

 

The park is located between the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and the Compton Family Ice Arena, at the NE corner of Angela Boulevard/Edison Road and Eddy Street.

In 2017, these features were added to the Park as part of Phase Two.

• A central valley and berms for the display of sculptures
• A great lawn for picnicking, playing Frisbee, playing catch, and lounging on the grass
• A natural stone amphitheater for concerts, theatrical performances, poetry readings, and tour group meetings
• Additional lighted and paved pathways for walking, running, and bicycling
• More limestone seats
• 275 additional trees and over 1,000 shrubs
• A main entrance created at the corner of Angela Boulevard and Eddy Street

Sculpture added during Phase Two included a Jaume Plensa work acquired by Snite Museum Advisory Council members Bill and Julie Ballard, Fern Temple IV by Fr. Austin Collins, and a commissioned, site-specific public sculptural pathway created by artist Philip Rickey. Rickey’s Life of Christ/Cycle of Life artwork is an addition to Notre Dame’s sacred spaces.

For more information on the sculptures, please download the Reclaiming Our Nature brochure below (pdf).

In addition to the installation of new sculpture, beautiful indigenous grasses were planted. Now nearing maturity, these plants—which do not require routine mowing, fertilization, watering, and treatment for insects and fungi—have well-established root systems and are bringing the landscape architect's vision to fruition. 

The Vision

When he was first approached with designing the Park, noted American landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh immediately appreciated the site’s serendipitous qualities that had resulted from past neglect. Previously a landfill, the site enjoys rolling topography; mature trees were likely planted to hide the existing dump, their lofty canopy resulting from aggressive pruning to clear unsightly underbrush. The water element controls runoff from acres of adjacent Stadium parking.

 

The fortuitous evolution of this Notre Dame site from historic disregard to present natural beauty suggested the overarching theme of Reclaiming Our Nature both for the Park and the inaugural exhibition. The title refers not only to sculptures selected to celebrate the natural environment, but to the other works acquired to support humankind’s universal desire for spiritual transcendence. For example, the Life of Christ/Cycle of Life sculpture pathway was created to encourage prayer, reflection, and meditation.

An Arts District for Notre Dame

The Sculpture Park is part of a larger vision for the southern entrance to campus:

 

Creating an arts district. The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park, and the Walsh Family Hall of Architecture are in place; ground has been broken for construction of the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at Notre Dame within the Sculpture Park; and the Department of Art, Art History, & Design will also one day be located within the arts district. Peer institutions have created similar arts districts because they understand important cultural offerings are necessary to attract and retain the best students and faculty. They also understand that contemporary careers require creative thinking and visual literacy.

 

Creating a literal gateway to the local community. In addition to sharing arts resources with the local community, this sector of campus features parking, retail, hotel, and dining options found within Eddy Street Commons. The Compton Family Ice Arena has one rink dedicated to regional youth hockey and Innovation Park connects Notre Dame researchers with regional entrepreneurs.

 

Creating a “greenbelt” at the southern campus entrance. Driving west on Angela Boulevard, one sees the meadow that circles the Compton Family Ice Arena, the natural landscape within the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park, the Irish Green lawn, tree-lined Notre Dame Avenue, and Cedar Grove Cemetery. This “greenbelt” creates a gracious, natural southern entrance to campus.

 

(Updated June 29, 2021)

 

Video Interviews with Artists and Landscape Architects

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Philip Rickey - Life of Christ from City Visions on Vimeo.

Exhibitions

Reclaiming our Nature

(PDF Brochure)