There is a little park in Lincoln City that rises up from the shores of Devil's Lake like bleachers in a stadium. the name of the park is Regatta, so named because it was from this vantage point that crowds would gather in the '20's and '30's to watch the boat races on the lake.
Children of all ages come to roll down the hill on the grass, play in the play ground, or swim in the lake. But the only guardians they had were their parents. Last year, a new guardian was constructed to watch over the activities in the park. It is a massive conglomeration of metal that has been formed to resemble a giant dragon.
This "Art" piece was created by artist, Heidi Erickson and metal sculptor, Doug Kroger. It took two years to construct and stands 18 feet tall. At the dedication ceremony last August, many people sealed their "wishes" inside the creature's bright red heart.
This year, the Lincoln City Art's Committee opened up a contest to the community children to give the dragon a name. Two Elementary School children won the contest. Third grader, Rachel Sheuing from Taft Elementary School submitted the name of "Sparky." Second grader, Allyson Hall from Oceanlake Elementary School thought "Wish Guardian" would be an appropriate name.
In the end, the committee decided that the guardian dragon should be called "Sparky, the Wish Guardian." How very appropriate! "Sparky" to commorate the many hours of welding that created the creature; and "Wish Guardian" to describe the protection of all of the wishes sealed in its red heart. (Not to mention, its role as it stands at the entrance of the park as a guardian to all who come to play.)
Though There are numerous signs posted to keep children and guests from climbing on the sculpture (both for their own protection and to protect the sculpure from injury), Billy, my rule-breaking, always climbing son, just had to test fate and climb to the dragon's head. (I held my breath the entire time--he's too old to spank, and he stopped listening to my warnings years ago. Maybe that awesome dragon's heart concept protected my son--but, I don't recommend any repeat visits for that purpose.)
I didn't get a close up picture of the "red heart," because on the day we were at the park, we were just curious visitors come to see the latest attraction, and we had no idea what it symbolized. Perhaps on another visit.
