Mead Library and the City of Sheboygan Public Works are soliciting original poetry from local residents as part of the city’s new Sidewalk Poetry Program.
The program will transform city sidewalks into an open poetry book, with original poetry stamped onto public sidewalk squares slated for repair throughout the city. The goal is to inspire moments of surprise, reflection, empathy and gratitude as residents and visitors make their way along the streets of Sheboygan.
The first sidewalk poems are slated to be installed in 2023, with annual rounds of submissions and installations in subsequent years as part of the city’s sidewalk maintenance program.
Submissions for 2023 are now being accepted online through Jan. 31, 2023. Paper forms are also available at Mead Library. Winners will be announced in April.
The program is open to City of Sheboygan residents and to Sheboygan Area School District students. Submissions must be original poems written by the entrant. Applicants may submit one poem per year.
Poems must fit within a maximum of ten lines, including any title, with up to 35 characters per line, including spaces, and 225 characters overall, including spaces.