Oops, Parks Board Did It Again

I finally got the chance to look up the actual resolution the Oshkosh Common Council passed on January 24th, 2006 approving the placement of the Christmas Box Statue in Menominee Park. The resolution was initiated by the Parks Department, and indicated that the Advisory Parks Board investigated 3 site options for the Statue--all in Menominee Park.

The Common Council approved the resolution on a 7-0 vote. The minutes indicate that only two members of the Council spoke on it. Paul Esslinger "gave a brief history of the Christmas Box Statue and stated he was pleased to have the statue be part of the city." Bryan Bain "stated the opportunity would be excellent for a citizens group to contribute to the park." Bain sits on the Parks Advisory Board.

It is absolutely extraordinary and almost unconscionable that neither the Parks Director, the Parks Advisory Board, the City Manager, City Attorney, or any member of the Council even considered any possible downsides to placing an angel in the park. Even if we were to take off the table the issue of whether it is appropriate to place religious symbols in park--is the Parks Advisory Board now ready to place in our public parks any statue proposed by any citizens group as long as they pay for it? Did it not occur to them that the city should at least discuss the standards that would be used to determine what art is "in" and what is "out?"

What makes this situation especially troubling is that it follows very closely on the heels of the Miller's Bay fiasco, where the Parks Advisory Board and Common Council passed with very little discussion the approval of a pier. You mean that the Iowa City Parks Board and Common Council are capable of discussing the appropriateness of angel displays in public parks but Oshkosh is not? I think the Parks Board needs to adopt Oops, I did it again as their theme song.