Kirkland has pulled it off. And nine days early, no less.
Thanks to last-minute donations from some Kirkland neighborhood associations and developers, change-collecting quartet players at the Kirkland Market and the generosity of more than 600 donors, the grand total of $212,160 was successfully raised on July 22 to outright purchase the famed three bronze statues.
The bears, bunnies and deer will be permanently situated in downtown Kirkland and near Carillon Point. Bill Ballantine will be paid, and the statues will stay.
The effort to "save the animals" - as the campaign was dubbed - has built and maintained momentum since October and has become the poster child for Kirkland fund-raising moxy.
In fact, the sculptures, which have been on loan from Ballantine since the early 1990s, have achieved legendary star status. They have become cherished symbols of a town that has refused to relinquish them.
Deputy Mayor Joan McBride, who has represented the city council in fund-raising efforts, said in the city's July 26 press release: "This says so much about how our community came together and rallied around keeping these three sculptures in the community."
Robert Larson, chair of the Kirkland Cultural Council said the the three sculptures are "touchstones of our community. The countless children that have enjoyed crawling over and amongst the bunnies and the often photographed sculptures are a testament to their importance to local families and visitors."
In July, two neighborhoods, Moss Bay and Market, decided to use all or a portion of their Neighborhood Connection funding in the amount of $32,000 to help contribute to the campaign. According to Assistant City Manager Lynn Stokesbary, two anonymous private donors supplemented Moss Bay and Market with an additional $8,000 and the Lakeview Neighborhood Association donated $500.
In the days prior to meeting the goal on July 22, several real estate development companies donated $17,500, nuzzling the coffers almost to the brim. And then, Continental Properties, having already donated, anted up the remaining sum.
The persistence and innovation of corporate and grass-roots fund-raising was the backbone of the campaign. Kathy Page Feek, former chair of the Kirkland Cultural Council and one of the major drivers of the effort, acknowledges the many young people who contributed their time and energy, without any prodding.
She notes the recent effort of a third-grade class at Lakeview Elementary, who positioned itself on the median next to the Bounding Muledeer. "I drove by there and saw this whole group of kids with the words 'Help Me' on the backs of their T-shirts. Their backs were to traffic. I didn't even know they were doing this."
McBride wants to make sure all the donors are recognized and appropriately feted. "A date will be set to thank all these wonderful people in a special way."
Feek agrees: "There will be a big party in September [to allow for summer vacationers to return]. We will invite at least 300-500 people. I don't know where it will be, but it will have to be a big enough venue to accommodate everyone."
The statues are expected to retain their current perches. Mountain Comrades (bears) are located at Kirkland Avenue and Third Street and currently are under wraps during construction. According to Feek, they will be reinstalled and will be part of the plaza there.
Close Quarters (bunnies) is located at the corner of Central Way and Lake Street. Bounding Muledeer is located at the intersection of Lake Washington Boulevard and Lakeview Drive at Carillon Point.
There has been a collective sigh of relief resonating through Kirkland. "We don't have to do this again," said Feek with a laugh. "We're paying the appraised value. It's a fair amount. Now we can turn attention to new art and art in the neighborhoods."[[In-content Ad]]
