The stamps used to imprint last years poems into city Sidewalks.

The city of St. Cloud is asking residents to submit poetry in a contest that is sure to make a lasting impression on the city’s new sidewalks.

KVSC’s Justus Sanchez has the AUDIO STORY.

The city of St. Cloud is now accepting submissions for the second annual Poetry In Sidewalks contest. St. Cloud Arts Commission Coordinator Jennifer Penzkover says five submitted poems will be selected and stamped into new side walk construction this summer.

The deadline to submit poems is 2:30 p.m. on Monday May 6th.

Penzkover says the contest was inspired by the city of St. Paul artist in residence Marcus Young. St. Paul’s city website reports 470 poems are stamped in city sidewalks.

Last year St. Cloud began with six poems in its sidewalks. The winners are imprinted along 25th Avenue South, Tenth and Eleventh Avenue North. Penzkover was surprised to have over 80 entries in last year’s contest.

The sidewalk stamps are a part of the St. Cloud Arts budget and won’t be an extra cost to residents.

The winners are selected from a panel of poets and arts commission members. Penzkover says that every poem entered in to the contest will be on display at the St. Cloud Public Library after the deadline.

The complete rules for Poetry in Sidewalks can be found here.