PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY, Mich,. (WPBN/WGTU) – – In Onaway, an industrial artist has turned scrap metal into a celebration of creativity and community.
Awakon Park is filled with towering sculptures and bold designs, all built by Tom Moran, founder of Moran Ironworks.
For decades, Tom Moran has been known for his massive industrial projects.
But thirty years ago, a few friends and coworkers encouraged him to do something different to turn his leftover steel into art.
“Several people over the course of the first 10 or 15 years suggested that I keep all the sculptures usually fourth of July I give them away or donate them to different nonprofits. It certainly wasn’t my idea I thought it would be like a junkyard, and in maintenance is a big issue so the idea came over a number of years from a lot of different people,” said Tom Moran- President Ceo And Founder Of Moran Ironworks)
What started as a small idea grew into Awakon Park, a free outdoor sculpture garden that’s become a point of pride for the city of Onaway.
For Moran, building it wasn’t just about art, it was about giving something back.
“Well actually, I believe it’s a responsibility more than, I think we all have a responsibility to give back somewhere, within our means to our communities and into the world matter of fact, so I think it’s a natural thing I mean something I always thought that I should do,” said Moran.
Maintaining the park is no small task.
The sculptures are massive, taking 800 to one thousand hours to make and the upkeep following comes with a big price tag.
“I also thought that it would cost me about $60,000 a year for about three or four years to get the park kind of where I wanted it. Well took about $120,000 a year for about ten years and it’s still not where I want,” said Moran.
But Moran says the effort is worth it and he’s not done yet.
“Well, that’s a plan is for the park, continuous improvement. But I have I have quite a few things that I haven’t done. There’s still challenges out there things that I want to do so yeah, I have plenty on my plate,” said Moran.
Awakon Park is free and open year-round in Onaway.
Moran says Awakon Park will keep evolving as a place where art, industry, and community all come together.
You can get more information on Awakon Park .