William Penn Statue to Remain in Philadelphia's Welcome Park

National Park Service reverses decision to remove statue following backlash, while refurbishment plans for the park continue.

The National Park Service (NPS) reversed its decision to remove the statue of Pennsylvania founder William Penn from Philadelphia's Welcome Park after facing backlash.
The NPS had planned to remove the statue as part of a rehabilitation effort for the park ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
The proposal also included an expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia, but Native American groups stated they had not demanded the statue's removal.
The decision to keep the statue was confirmed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on social media.
The NPS plans to continue with refurbishing the park, engaging in a robust public process to consider options.