Maintenance on ‘Keys to the City’ sculpture to cost $113k
Keys to the City stands guard in front of Columbia City Hall, its towering key‑shaped form a familiar landmark for residents and visitors alike. The city has earmarked a $113,011 restoration effort to address years of wear and to modernize the piece.
Work will begin with safety fencing installed around the sculpture, followed by the careful removal of its glass panels. Over the next three weeks crews will strip rust and old paint, a process slated to continue into early November before the panels are re‑installed.
A highlight of the project is a new lighting system that will be fitted inside the keyhole, promising to illuminate the work after dark and enhance its visual presence. The lighting is scheduled for full installation by early 2027, giving the sculpture a fresh glow for years to come.
The comprehensive upkeep not only preserves an artistic emblem of the city’s identity but also signals a renewed commitment to public art as a living, evolving part of the urban landscape.