Overview

• The Chicago Park District has reached a settlement with the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) over the 2020 removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Arrigo Park.
• Under the agreement, the statue will be loaned to the JCCIA and displayed in a redeveloped Italian immigration museum on Taylor Street.
• The Park District has begun dismantling the Grant Park plinth that previously held another Columbus statue, creating space for future rotating public art installations.
• A community-driven process, including artist submissions and public input, will determine a new statue for Arrigo Park to honor Italian-American contributions.
• The JCCIA has indicated its intention to discuss the potential return of the Grant Park Columbus statue in the future, with added security measures.