Religious imagery in proposed Rowntree Park art draws a letter from national separation group; staff says city attorney saw no violation
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Summary
A member relayed a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation urging caution about church references in Rowntree Park artwork; staff said the city attorney reviewed the matter and indicated the city was not acting improperly. The project is community-led by OCIA and has not been finalized.
S1, a board member, told colleagues that the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter expressing concern that artwork at Rowntree Park referencing churches could make some people feel unwelcome. “The Freedom from Religion Foundation is a national national foundation that is their whole mission is separation of church and state,” S1 said, summarizing the group's viewpoint.
S6, a staff member, responded that the city attorney has reviewed the project and told Paul Belden (parks director) that the city had not done anything wrong to date. “The city attorney has reviewed it and said that there's been... nothing to review yet because we don't have the art yet,” S6 said, describing the limited status of the project and the community-led selection process.
Board members noted the project was not directly led by the Arts Board but by an OCIA/community-led group that has conducted outreach and surveys. S6 said that at this stage there are no concrete, approved art selections and that the OCIA and other nonprofit organizations will play a role in choosing pieces for display at Round Lake Park.
The board did not take a formal action; members asked staff to share the Freedom From Religion Foundation letter and to keep the board informed if the project comes to the board for review.