The Oklahoma City Arts Commission this week approved an agreement to install the big Route 66 boot at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
The “Kicks 66” art project still requires approval from the city council before it can proceed, reported KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.
The original proposed location was on Classen Boulevard, on a sliver of land north of the Milk Bottle building. The Arts Commission voted down that site due to it being too close to the gateway of the Asian District.
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is just off a 1950s alignment of Route 66.
The Kicks 66 art display is a 35-foot-tall red boot with stitching that reads, “Oklahoma City Looks Mighty Prett,” a lyric from “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” song composed by Bobby Troup and first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946.
A Route 66 shield is part of the installation with a winding path that resembles a highway. A prickly pear cactus sits near the big boot.
Cameron Eagle submitted the winning design from more than 50 entries. Eagle also designed the “Welcome to Luther” neon sign in Luther, Oklahoma, that was dedicated a few months ago.
The city planned to set aside $875,000 in voter-approved MAPS 4 sales-tax funds for the project.
(Artist’s rendering of the public art project coming to Oklahoma City)