COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Five years after its removal, new conversations are emerging about the Christopher Columbus statue that once stood outside of city hall.
City leaders announced the statue would be removed in 2020 after calls from the community saying he’s a symbol of racism and not someone who should be glorified. But about two years ago, Reimagining Columbus was tasked with coming up with a ‘generational vision’ for how it might be reintroduced to the community.
“Very happy to hear that people are actually wanting it to be put it back,” resident Alicia Healy said.
According to Dan Williamson, a member of the Reimagining Columbus project team, there has been one question that’s fueled the project.
“Is there a way to bring this statue back in the right way?” Williamson said. “And what this project concluded is that there is a way. That’s different from saying we have a plan to bring it back, because we don’t. We have a vision to bring it back.”
Reimagining Columbus unveiled an idea for a park that includes the statue without making it the centerpiece. Text about Columbus’ history would surround it.
“People can look up at it with respect,” Williamson said. “People can look down at it. People can come to the space and avoid the statue altogether and never see it.”
The vision includes an approximately 5-acre park designed around a circular community gathering space where festivals and concerts could be held.
“It’s pretty incredible,” resident Michelle Brandt said. “I mean it’s very ambitious, but I think it’s an opportunity to show the rest of the country also what we can do with something that’s maybe a little controversial and I think the park can serve a bigger purpose which is to bring communities together.”
Throughout this process, Reimagining Leaders said there have been several community conversations.
“What’s most remarkable about it, particularly in this day and age and in the climate that we have today, you had people from different backgrounds and different points of view sitting across from a table from each other, actually talking and listening to each other,” Williamson said.
Williamson said this is a subject that people feel strongly about no matter which side they’re on.
“We think our heritage should be preserved,” resident Joseph Healy said. “I mean, the statues represent great men. They might’ve had flaws. If you go back in history, every great leader had flaws.”
However not everyone feels this way.
“There are other people who look at the statue and say why are we showing reverence to a person who caused the death of many indigenous people,” Williamson said.
There is currently not a site or budget identified for this project.
“If people see this and people are excited about it, then that could give it some momentum,” Williamson said.
Williamson said this step will give the city a chance to gauge community reaction and that feedback will guide what happens next. With Reimagining Columbus’ work complete, the decision now rests with the city.
“Whatever comes out of this, I believe this is a national model for how do you bring a community together and actually attract people from different backgrounds, different cultures and different points of view to get them to have uncomfortable conversations about uncomfortable topics,” Williamson said.
