The National Park Service (NPS) has reversed its decision to remove a statue of William Penn from Welcome Park in Philadelphia. The initial proposal, which aimed to rehabilitate the park and expand the telling of Philadelphia’s Native American history, faced significant backlash and criticism. The NPS announced on Monday evening that the release of the preliminary draft proposal was premature and had not undergone a complete internal review.
According to a news release, there are no plans to make changes to the William Penn statue. The NPS did not provide a specific reason for the original decision to remove the statue. However, the proposal received over 2,600 comments from the public, expressing their opposition and calling for the idea to be scrapped. Many individuals took to social media to voice their disapproval, with some even demanding the firing of those responsible for the proposal.
Welcome Park, named after the ship that brought William Penn to Philadelphia in 1682, is located near prominent historical sites such as the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center. The park holds great significance in commemorating Pennsylvania’s founding and is a popular tourist attraction.
The initial decision to remove the William Penn statue drew strong criticism from Pennsylvania’s top Republican state House member, Rep. Bryan Cutler. He accused President Biden of attempting to “cancel” William Penn and criticized the proposal as an example of extreme ideology and a distorted view of history. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, on the other hand, claimed credit for the reversal, stating that his team had been in contact with the Biden administration to rectify the decision.
With the proposal withdrawn, the NPS has temporarily closed the public comment period. They remain committed to rehabilitating Welcome Park in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Once all necessary internal reviews are completed, the park will engage in a thorough public process to consider options for refurbishing the park in the coming years.
The National Park Service’s decision to reverse the proposal has brought relief to those who opposed the removal of the William Penn statue. However, the controversy surrounding the initial plan highlights ongoing debates about historical monuments and the interpretation of history.
