KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — It looks like the plan to refurbish the controversial Ianelli fountain in Bronson Park may be in jeopardy, and there may be a move made to remove it from the park altogether.
The City had a plan and was raising money to repair the Fountain of the Pioneers which depicts a white settler heading west and a Native American in a submissive position. But that was before growing racial tensions over Confederate art.
Last night after a number of citizen complaints, Commissioner Shannon Sykes proposed that the reconsider their decision to keep it.
But because the County actually owns the Park and the City has an agreement with the Gun Lake Tribe and donors for funding, Mayor Bobby Hopewell suggested they do some fact finding first.
It will be back for discussion after the commission election next month.
The Commission did agree to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day to reflect the changing historical portrait of Christopher Columbus.
