By Elana Gordon
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-713846.mp3
Kansas City, MO – After several months of construction, a brief ribbon cutting ceremony marked the completion of renovations to the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park. California-based artist Philip Smith built a 16 foot sculpture at the north end of the park, along 47th street. Smith was at the event and says he hopes the piece provides inspiration to cancer survivors as well as others.
Smith: The bottom layer is a perfect circle and the piece actually twists 45 degrees and opens up to become an 8 pointed star at the top. So it's really meant to be almost like an abstract flower that's about to bloom. It's supposed to be full of hope, inspiration and about transformation.
Special plaques and flowers also line a new walkway near the sculpture. The ceremony kicked off an annual rally at the park for National Cancer Survivor's Day.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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