The National Park Service (NPS) has announced its decision to remove a statue of William Penn from Welcome Park in Philadelphia. The statue, which commemorates Penn’s founding of Pennsylvania, is situated at his former home. According to the NPS, the move is part of a “rehabilitation” proposal aimed at providing a more inclusive and accurate experience for visitors.
The proposed plan for Welcome Park includes expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia. The NPS collaborated with representatives from the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma to develop the proposal.
Welcome Park, named after the ship “Welcome” that Penn took to Philadelphia in 1682, was established 300 years later. The NPS is now calling for public feedback on the proposal through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) platform. Already, more than 500 comments have been submitted.
However, the decision to remove the statue has sparked mixed reactions. Some social media users have expressed their disagreement, suggesting that the statue should remain in its current location. Others have used the opportunity to voice their criticism of the national park service, calling for defunding and disbanding.
To officially submit comments, individuals can visit the PEPC website between January 8 and January 21. The NPS emphasizes that comments made through social media, phone calls, email, or mail will not be accepted.
If the proposal is approved, Welcome Park will still retain aspects of its original design, including the street grid, rivers, and east wall. The addition of a planted buffer on three sides and a gathering space with circular benches is also planned.
The removal of the William Penn statue from Welcome Park signifies the NPS’s effort to create a more inclusive and accurate historical narrative in Philadelphia. The decision has generated both support and opposition, with public feedback playing a crucial role in shaping the final outcome.
