More than 150 heart statues were created by 123 local artists to be installed around the Kansas City metro this month and Kearney will be part of the celebration.

*Kearney’s heart sculpture was created by Lisa Wild Healey and features iconic Kansas City locations on strips of film over a red background*

According the Parade of Hearts website, the purpose behind the hearts is to “unite our region through an incredible public art experience.” The initiative will promote tourism to each of the cities and show the nation we can be unified and strong. The event will also energize the local economy, and revitalize retail and service sectors, and raise funds for those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Parade of Hearts is a public arts experience located in the Heartland of America,” announced Mayor Randy Pogue at the Board of Aldermen meeting. “Original artwork based around the historical and iconic KC Heart will be placed throughout the Kansas City region as an example of unification and to make our communities stronger.”

Kearney’s heart sculpture was created by Lisa Wild Healey and features iconic Kansas City locations on strips of film over a red background. Like the other sculptures in the parade, the heart also prominently displays “KC” in the middle of the design. The heart sculpture will be placed at the Kearney Historic Museum between the fountain and the Matt Mason Memorial. Local artists submitted their work in hopes of being selected to showcase their art on one of the statues.

Artists involved with creating the hearts will receive a $2,000 stipend for their completed design. Other beneficiaries include AltCap, minority owned business grants; Visit KC Foundation, locally owned business grants in the hospitality and tourism industries; the University of Kansas Health System, supporting covid patients that have long-term lingering effects on the heart; and Mid-America Regional Council, supporting the reopening of child care facilities and early childhood education digital needs.

The Parade of Hearts will run through June, when the hearts will be auctioned off.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story