DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Homer Garcia III, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 1
SUBJECT:
Acknowledging and approving the removal of the Christopher Columbus Statue from Columbus Park; Conveyance of the statue to the Christopher Columbus Italian Society; and Renaming Columbus Park to Piazza Italia Park
SUMMARY:
An ordinance acknowledging and approving the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Columbus Park; conveyance of the statue to the Christopher Columbus Italian Society; and renaming of Columbus Park to Piazza Italia Park located at 500 Columbus Street in Council District 1.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A Council Consideration Request (CCR) was sponsored by Councilmember Trevi?o on June 15, 2020, requesting the return of the Christopher Columbus statue located at Columbus Park to the Christopher Columbus Italian Society (Society) and the renaming of Columbus Park to Piazza Italia Park. He has worked diligently with the Society and local indigenous groups to reach an understanding that would unify the community in this public green space.
San Antonio has a rich history of immigrant communities creating a home and thriving in the community. At the end of the nineteenth century, the Italian community in San Antonio flourished on what is now the northern edge of downtown and founded the Christopher Columbus Italian Society in May 1890 and built the Italian Catholic Church (San Francesco di Paola) in 1927 and the Italian Hall in 1928 making it one of the oldest Italian societies in the country. It was the first Italian Hall in the State of Texas and on October 12, 1957, the Society donated to the City of San Antonio a statue made in Italy of Christopher Columbus. In recognition of this rich history, the Society proposes to work with the Offices of Arts & Culture and Historic Preservation on the creation of a plaque marking the location of the Italian community to be placed on the plinth in place of the...
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