Sculpture ‘ damaged’ as locals take to ice in city’s Queen’s Park
AH I S T O R I C a r t sculpture in Queen’s P a r k h a s b e e n reportedly damaged after locals took advantage of the frozen pond.
Residents on social media have claimed that the artwork, which is normally surrounded by pond water, has been damaged after it was made fully accessible by the Queen’s Park pond freezing over.
The frozen pond has become a temporary landmark and Instagram staple in the South Side over the past week, with locals coming out to try out their skating skills and taking advantage of the cold snap.
However, there have been reports of people sitting on the George Rickey sculpture, as well children playing and bouncing on it.
Local councillor Soryia Siddique said: “I have been contacted by constituents raising concerns that the George Rickey sculpture has been damaged.
“I have raised this with neighbourhoods and sustainability and requested an assessment of the damage with a view to it being repaired.
“It would also be advantageous for warning signs to be placed in appropriate places.”
The sculpture installed in the park less than one month ago, after 26 years in storage.
It had been placed in Festival Park in June 1994, however was removed after only 24 hours after local children used the artwork as a playground.
The sculpture then spent around 26 years in storage before being installed.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We are aware that local residents are expressing concern about the sculpture, but nothing was reported to us directly.
“We have also seen images of people sitting, standing and playing on the sculpture and we want to check its soon as possible.
“At this stage, however, the ice across the pond means that our staff cannot safely access the sculpture to establish whether it has been damaged or not.
“A proper assessment will be undertaken once the ice has thawed and staff can reach the sculpture safely.”
Glasgow City Council also broke up the ice on Queen’s Park pond yesterday morning after a 12- year- old boy fell through the condition as surface on Monday afternoon, with the council also placing ‘ thin ice’ signs around the pond as it begins to thaw.
A spokesman said: “Despite signs warning of thin ice on the pond and a police presence at the park, people have continued to go onto the ice, which is clearly a cause for concern.
“To guard against a risk to safety and to prevent people from going on to the ice, we have now broken up ice around the pond’s edge.”