Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema says his recommendation to remove the Fountain of the Pioneers from Bronson Park fits in with other efforts at the city. His plan calls for removing the fountain sometime this year, and turning the area to green space.
Ritsema says he considered that the city is working to end generational poverty. He says one part of that strategy is racial healing. The sculpture that accompanies the fountain in Bronson Park has long been criticized for being demeaning to Native Americans. Ritsema says
“What better way to demonstrate our desire for racial healing than removing a monument that, to some is a sign of that, of racism or hurt.”
The city is working on a master plan for Bronson Park and has started a fundraising campaign. Ritsema says the city will contact people who have already donated,
“To determine if they would like to continue or direct those funds to the overall master plan. Of if they would like those funds returned…we’ll honor their choice.”
Ritsema’s proposal calls for putting the “artistic elements of the fountain,” a sculpture by Alphonso Ianelli into storage. He says the plan is to find a new home, likely in a museum.
Flooding
Ritsema says the city is still assessing the damage done by the historic flooding in February. He says the city is trying to “align resources” with people who need them. Ritsema says that includes Goodwill and the Salvation Army, which are both providing assistance.
The thawing and heavy rains have made the conditions of roads even worse. But Ritsema says he’s not expecting additional pot holes, to put a major strain on the budget.
While the flood was historic, Ritsema says the city is preparing in case flooding happens again. He says sand bags created by volunteers have been stockpiled for the future. Ritsema says there are some street projects scheduled for this summer along Crosstown Parkway to Park Street that may help reduce flooding in the short term. He says longer term work on the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek would be more expensive. But Ritsema says can apply for federal money to help pay for those projects.