Giant guitar pick ready for Johnny Cash Trail in Folsom

Folsom is all set to put up the first of two giant, bronze guitar picks on the Johnny Cash Trail near Historic Sutter Street. The city is fundraising to install a world-class public art experience along the trail to celebrate Cash, his music and his Folsom connection. The seven-foot, $155,000 "Johnny Cash's Pick No. 1" is complete and ready to be installed, staff said. The first giant guitar pick will be located at the western end of the trail adjacent to Riley Street and Greenback Lane above the Rainbow Bridge. "This prominent location will be viewed by approximately 20,000 cars per day, as well as hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists," Folsom staff said in the report. The Folsom City Council approved a construction contract Tuesday with Central Valley Engineering & Asphalt of Roseville for $299,000, with a $29,000 contingency for the placement of the finished guitar pick. The construction project includes clearing and grubbing, concrete paving, decorative sandblasting, installation of a concrete footing and sleeve for the sculpture, a 20-foot cast-iron "record deck," and miscellaneous site furnishings. The city engineer's estimate for the project was $240,000, according to the report. "In addition, the selected contractor will coordinate the placement of the bronze pick sculpture with the artist," staff said. District 7 State Assemblyman Josh Hoover presented a $425,000 state grant to Folsom last summer for the Johnny Cash Trail "Art Experience." Specifically, the money went toward the second guitar pick at the other end of the trail, staff said. Folsom opened Phase 1 of the Johnny Cash Trail in October 2014. The first phase included a 1.2-mile stretch of Class I bike trail that connects the Folsom Lake Trail with a new bike/pedestrian over-crossing, now known as the Johnny Cash Trail Bridge. The city finalized the trail in 2017 and held a grand opening. The Johnny Cash Trail included Robbers Ravine Bridge that spans over the gulch separating the municipal center and Folsom Prison. The Johnny Cash Trail Art Experience Master Plan identifies eight art experience pieces envisioned along the 2.5-mile trail. Folsom contracted Romo Studios to produce a mold for the guitar picks when funds were available. The city has been working with RRM Design Group to complete landscape design, construction drawings and art along the trail. RRM Design Group updated the trail art map in 2018, which shows all eight art pieces envisioned. The current project was presented to the Arts and Culture Commission last month for consideration and recommendation. The commission supported the project and forwarded a recommendation to the Folsom City Council. The Johnny Cash Trail Art Experience Project is included in the FY 2023-24 Capital Improvement Plan with a total project budget of $1,028,764. The total is, however, only partially funded, staff said. Staff said $207,500 of costs are funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies, previously earmarked for Cash Pick No. 1 ($155,000) and Johnny Cash Marketing ($52,500).