Port Saint Lucie - June 16, 2022 - The Port St. Lucie City Council Monday unanimously approved a proposal made by the developer Mattamy Homes to place a public work of art in Tradition, the master planned community being built in Port St. Lucie by Mattamy. The City’s Public Art Advisory Board has already signed off on the project.
Mattamy has commissioned Orlando based Filipino artist Jefre Figueras Manuel, known as JEFRË. He has designed the work and is constructing it in his Orlando studio. It is a 100-foot heart shaped sculpture that has been dubbed "Heart in the Park." It will be installed near the intersection of Village Parkway and Discovery Way in the heart of the Tradition development. It will be the largest heart sculpture in the world. Mattamy Homes submitted the proposal as required by the City's public art requirement.
"I believe this piece of art will bring our community together,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin. “We like to say Port St. Lucie is a City for all people, and now we can say it is a City with a heart for all people.”
The Heart and accompanying visitor center will sit atop a raised public plaza designed to align with a pedestrian walkway and promenade from the Shoppes at the Heart project. In addition to vehicular parking, golf cart and bicycle parking is being provided along with public seating and gathering areas to allow the site to be used for public events.
“JEFRË understands our vision for Tradition and how integral art is to life in our community," said Dan Grosswald, Mattamy President of the Southeast Florida Division. "When we saw his sculptures around the world, we knew that he would create an iconic, recognizable piece of art for our current and future residents and for visitors to travel to see."
“The Heart in the Park public art will be a testament to the inclusive, loving and welcoming City of Port St. Lucie," said JEFRË. "This Heart will be a postcard moment that brings people together."
Download the “Heart in the Park” Animation Video HERE.
Learn more about Tradition at www.mattamyhomes.com.