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Parks board recommends Roe Park as new site for George Washington bust
Summary
Planning staff told the Advisory Parks Board on June 9 that neighborhood representatives selected Roe Park as the preferred site to display a George Washington bust the city acquired when it purchased the former George Washington School property.
Planning staff briefed the Advisory Parks Board on June 9 about neighborhood recommendations for placing a George Washington bust that the city inherited when it purchased the former George Washington School site in 2024. Planning staff said three neighborhood associations reviewed potential sites and recommended Rowe Park (Rowe Park) along Washington Avenue.
Staff described a proposed location near the sidewalk that would include an ADA‑compliant approach and a historical plaque telling the bust’s provenance. The pedestal was retained with the bust and city staff said the Hicks Fund (a municipal fund for monuments and statuary) could cover any reconditioning or cleaning if needed.
Board members generally voiced support for Rowe Park as a visible downtown neighborhood site near the Y that could accommodate a small memorial treatment without overcrowding other sites such as the William Waters Plaza. Staff noted neighborhood grant funds have been applied for by the neighborhood associations to cover installation and minor beautification; any structural work would go through plan commission and the common council as part of the city’s approval process.
A motion recommending Rowe Park to the Plan Commission and Common Council carried on a unanimous board vote. The board directed staff to confirm ADA access, pedestal condition and any conservation work and then forward the recommendation to the Plan Commission and Common Council for final approval and funding authorization.
