Contributed by Neal Conway- City of Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Mich. – Work has started to reorganize statues and monuments to facilitate the removal of the Fountain of the Pioneers in addition to planned changes outlined in the Bronson Park Master Plan.
On April 9, a private contractor completed the preservation work, carefully removed and stored Kirk Newman’s sculpture “When justice and mercy prevail, children may safely play”. The statues and all components of the work will be removed and placed into storage until they can be placed in their new location in Bronson Park following the completion of the Master Plan. In 2019 the sculptures will be placed where Mike, the peacock topiary, is currently located facing City Hall. Mike will be moved to the southeast corner of the park, near the Kalamazoo Public Library.
Following the removal of the sculptures from the west reflecting pool, work will begin to preserve the figures and other artistically significant pieces of the Fountain of the Pioneers. These pieces will also be stored while a more suitable venue can be secured for their display. City staff are currently exploring possible locations with a preference to keep the artwork local.
Following the removal of these pieces work will begin to remove both reflecting pools and replace them with irrigation and lawn panels. These will remain until a long term plan is created. Work is expected to be completed by the end of May and not impact summer events in Bronson Park. The remaining work outlined in the Bronson Park Master Plan is scheduled to commence in 2019
Work to Relocate Fountain of the Pioneers to begin the Week of April 23
Work to remove the Fountain of the Pioneers from Bronson Park is scheduled to begin the week of April 23. In preparation for this work, fencing will be installed around the work area later this week.
The project will begin with the removal and preservation of the figures and other artistically significant pieces of the fountain by a private contractor with expertise in preservation work. These pieces will be stored until a suitable venue can be secured for their display.
After this has been completed, the remaining elements of the fountain will be removed from the larger pool. The water cannons, drinking fountains and the perimeter walls around both the east and west pools will remain, and the pool areas will be filled and converted to lawns. Some sections of the pool walls will be removed to provide access to this new lawn area. This work is scheduled to begin the week of April 23.
All work, including park restoration, is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day, Monday May 28 and is not expected to impact summer events in Bronson Park.
Bronson Park will remain open throughout the project, but some sidewalks may be closed to safely accommodate equipment.
The lawn panels will remain in the center of the park until a long term plan is created. The remaining work outlined in the Bronson Park Master Plan is scheduled to commence in 2019. City staff will continue to work with the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians to incorporate educational and artistic elements in the park that accurately portray their history and culture.
City staff are continuing to explore locations to display the preserved elements of the Fountain of the Pioneers, with a preference to keep the artwork local.