By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
DEC. 2, 2025 | It’s not every community that can boast of the presence of white squirrels.
There have been sightings of white squirrels in many parts of Norcross for several years. Now volunteers in the city are launching a campaign based on the local white squirrels, according to Liz Simpson, chairman of the Norcross Public Arts Commission.
You may have seen a white squirrel scampering around downtown Norcross. Soon, you’ll be seeing more evidence of white squirrels, though not the real live squirrels, but a venture that the Norcross Public Arts Commission is rolling out. Thirteen sculptured bronze squirrels with a white patina will frolic in locations all around the city.
These native Norcross squirrels are not albino white squirrels, but leucistic, a rare genetic variant of the common Eastern gray squirrel. Such colonies of squirrels have been reported in other locations like Brevard, N.C., Olney, Ill.; and Marionville, Mo., Kenton, Tenn. and several cities in central Florida.
Recently, the Norcross Arts Commission embarked on a campaign with a three-pronged plan. It hired sculptor Marty Dawe to produce six unique poses of the white squirrel, and contracted for seven more replicas. These are being cast at Cherrylion Studios in Atlanta. These 13 originals will be placed around the city as public art and are expected to arrive sometimes in the spring.
Among the places the sculptures, slightly bigger than life size, will be located include Thrasher Park, Lillian Webb Park, Betty Mauldin Park, Norcross Gallery and Studios, and Discovery Garden Park.
Join the fun! You can support this placemaking art project in several different ways. Every squirrel needs a name! To participate, submit your NAME SUGGESTION.
In addition, the Commission is also having another 20 squirrels to be cast in resin, to be sold to individuals as fundraisers for the Commission. These will sell for $800 and locals buying them will be recognized by the commission.
That’s not all. The Commission is also casting commemorative plaster acorns “to feed” the squirrels. These resin acorns will sell for $200 and are suitable for outdoor use. They could make an addition to a porch or garden décor. Those wanting to purchase a resin squirrel should email NPAC for more information. The city is encouraging people to “decorate” these acorns around the city.
Basic funding for the Commission comes from the budget of the City of Norcross. The city allocated $30,000 for the Commission this year.
The Public Arts Commission members are Liz Simpson (chair), Samantha Spitzner, Robert Foro, Mike MacManus, Nicole Morgan, Jacques Murphy and one open seat.
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