No city becomes a great place to live, work and play without public art.

The Connecticut Post recently reported on the decision of the Ganim administration in Bridgeport to make a significant effort to grow the public sculpture in the city. Over the last few months 28 new pieces have been added to our existing collection.

In Russo Park (at Park and Fairfield Avenues), seven new pieces grace that newly created green space. The orange painted steel piece.titled "Rust Angel" is by world-renowned sculptor Mark DiSuvero. Peter Lundberg, another well-known sculptor, created the twisting concrete and steel piece. Peter is our liaison to the artist community and has worked hard at his own expense, with his own crane, to place these great pieces.

Seaside Park has more of Peter's work and a wonderful "smile" of Swedish granite by Claes Hake, and others. Lafayette Park, Majestic Park and Wheeler Park all have new, playful pieces with primary colors and in mixed materials.

I smiled. This piece did its job. It not only added color and life to the landscape, but it provoked this young woman to look and wonder and talk about art.

Here are the principles that guide our efforts: The Parks Department and my office receive proposals for sculpture to be placed in the city. The Board of Park . Commissioners deserve great credit for supporting this effort. They established an ad hoc committee to assist in this process.

All sculpture is donated tothe city on a temporary basis and continues to be owned by the sculptor. The sculptors provide insurance protecting both the sculpture and the city, from any potential liability.

Since the sculpture is not permanent, the placement and appropriateness of these will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Please send any comments you may have, pro and con, to me. Public art often causes great debate because it can define the nature of the community and its residents. That debate is worthwhile.