The City of Richmond and the Public Art Commission will hold a public forum this Tuesday at the Richmond Public Library to discuss the proposed monument of Maggie L.
The City of Richmond and the Public Art Commission will hold a public forum this Tuesday at the Richmond Public Library to discuss the proposed monument of Maggie L. Walker and an urban plaza at Broad and Adams streets at Brook Road.
Back in October, Mayor Dwight Jones announced plans to build a monument honoring the civil rights activist along with plans for an urban plaza.
Toby Mendez, the artist tasked by the Public Art Commission and neighborhood leaders with creating the monument of Walker, will also be present at the meeting.
The proposed Maggie Walker monument has been a bit of a hot button issue with many local residents. If completed, a large oak would have to be torn down so that the monument can go in its place which didn’t sit well with some of the community.
A petition entitied “Woodman, Spare that Tree” was started in Novmember by Jamie LaRose to persuade city officials to keep the oak tree. The petition now has 1,405 signatures.
On the other side, there are those that believe the tree cannot coexist with the statue and insist it be torn down. A petition with 316 signatures was started to support the statue and tear down the oak tree.
All residents are invited to “give input for their vision of the plaza that will be the home of public art to honor Maggie L. Walker” tomorrow, Jan. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Richmond Public Library Branch Auditorium on East Franklin Street.
The event is expected to have a large turnout, so RSVP here if you would like to participate.
