Four art pieces were stolen from Dedham's new Sawmill Park Pollinator Pathway just days before its planned opening, but the town says the Aug. 19 ribbon-cutting will go on as scheduled.

The pieces were discovered missing on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from the biodiversity-themed public art installation on the Sawmill Lane Bridge. The town's project page describes the installation as 40 vinyl, weatherproof art pieces featuring nature-themed work from local artists of all ages, organized by the Mother Brook Community Arts Center. News outlets have referred to the pieces as "art tiles."

The Town of Dedham said on its Facebook page that the removal was not done by town staff or by the artists involved, and that it is working closely with the Dedham Police Department to address the situation. According to Patch, police will monitor the area to protect the remaining artwork while the town works on replacements.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. at 21 Sawmill Lane. The event will be held rain or shine.

Six months in the making

The one-acre park sits adjacent to the historic Mother Brook and was funded by a $30,395 Massachusetts Community Biodiversity Grant through the Department of Fish & Game. Dedham was one of 12 communities statewide to receive the award.

The Dedham Department of Public Works spent roughly six months transforming the parcel, which had been overrun with invasive plants and littered with debris. The finished park includes a stone-dust pathway connecting to Condon Park, 11 native tree saplings, 117 shrubs and wildflowers, a rain garden that treats stormwater before it reaches Mother Brook, a wildlife-viewing bench and educational signage.

Eagle Scout candidate Malachi Reed of Dedham Troop 3 designed and installed a community seed library as part of the project. Inspired by the "Little Free Libraries" seen around town, the seed library lets residents swap native seeds for their own backyards under the motto "take a seed, leave a seed."

The Select Board accepted the biodiversity grant at its April 16 public meeting, and the Conservation Commission issued an Order of Conditions for work on the Riverfront Area the same night. DPW broke ground the week of May 11.

The ribbon-cutting will include remarks from the partners who helped bring the project to life. Anyone with information about the stolen art pieces can contact the Dedham Police Department.