Local News

City could be on hook to repair, move Hiawatha statue, other art

Published

5 years ago

January 6, 2019

If any repairs are made to La Crosse’s Hiawatha statue, the burden may be on the city’s parks and rec. department or the board of public works.

Those two offices will be sent a new report on the condition of several public art pieces around La Crosse.

The city arts board was told that the Riverside Park statue, built in the 1960s, is in poor condition, and should be repaired, moved or both.

A $35,000 repair project on Hiawatha was completed in 2001, but the warranty only lasted 10 years.

Many of the artworks most in need of repair are in La Crosse parks.

Along with the Hiawatha statue, the pedestal of the Eagle sculpture and the Lyra metal sculpture in Burns Park could need repairs.

The arts board is also considering having the Dancers sculpture moved out of the Pump House parking lot before this year’s Artspire festival happens there in June.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.