Future of Columbus statue in park to be discussed at hearing

The Pittsburgh Art Commission will schedule a special hearing for the public to voice their opinions on the potential removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park.

Mayor Bill Peduto asked the commission in a letter Tuesday to begin a public review to determine the future of the statue. The commission voted unanimously Wednesday for the hearing.

The statue — which was erected in Schenley Park in 1958 — was vandalized in 2010, 2017, and most recently this June and July amid nationwide protests against monuments honoring Columbus.

After the statue was vandalized in June, an online petition was created calling for its removal.

Following a discussion about the procedure of buying, placing and removing city- owned art — which included an argument between some commissioners and Assistant City Solicitor Lorraine Mackler on the autonomy of the commission — the commission approved the special hearing, which will allow members of the public to voice their opinions to the commission directly.

A date for the new hearing was not immediately available, though Commissioner Andrew Moss commented that he hoped it would happen within the month if possible.

Once the review process is completed, Mr. Peduto has requested a final report, including the public comments and a final recommendation from the commission.

In 2018, he had called upon the commission to offer a recommendation of what to do with the controversial Stephen Foster statue in Oakland. That statue was ultimately removed after unanimous approval by the commission.