5 Questions for Bob Gessler President Irish Memorial Board of Directors — Irish Memorial Will Move

Irish Edition

By Katharine Gilbert

Dedicated in 2003, The Irish Memorial was constructed to commemorate the sesquicentennial of An Gorta Mor, the Great Hunger, and to recognize the contributions of the Irish to the growth of this City, State and Nation.  It quickly became the symbol for immigrants from every country.  The monument, sculpted by Glenna Goodacre, is the centerpiece of a 1.5-acre park designed by award-winning landscape architect, Pauline Hurley-Kurtz.  The entire site sits atop a cover park over I-95 at Front St. that stretches from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street.

1

Why is the Irish Memorial being moved from its present location and where is the proposed location and how was that determined?

There are currently two large development projects affecting the area. One is the long-term multi-phase initiative to rebuild and improve Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania.  The other is part of a $225 million development project designed to reconnect the city to the waterfront. 

PennDOT has been working on I-95 both north and south of Penn’s Landing.  In the near future, development will start on the Penn’s Landing area.  Part of the initiative is to replace the cover park going over I-95. The new cover will be integrated into The Waterfront Project; part of the City’s Master Plan to develop an 11-acre park that will run from Front Street to the river and from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street. In order to replace the cap over I-95, the Irish and Scottish Memorials will have to be temporarily re-located.

As a vital stakeholder in the project, we have been in conversations with the City, PennDOT, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and others over the past few years.  The Board of the Irish Memorial is in support of development projects as they certainly will enhance and improve the area for all residents and visitors to the area.  The Irish Memorial will be a key element in the newly constructed park, which will likely include restaurants, housing and hotels, and most importantly a large public space.

We are in the process of identifying viable “TEMPORARY” sites for the Irish Memorial Park. Prospective sites must be able to accommodate the scope of the current Irish Memorial Park, as the temporary location is expected to last a few years.  It must also be as accessible as our current location for our community and visitors alike, as there are regularly scheduled events held there.

2

Who are the decision makers guiding this project?

The Board of the Irish Memorial is currently working with representatives from PennDOT, the City of Philadelphia and the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, who are the key decision makers for the project.  Each of these decision makers have continually reiterated that all decisions will take into consideration the concerns and interests of all stakeholders, including the Irish Memorial.  The Board of the Irish Memorial, supported by our legal counsel, will represent the interest of the Memorial.

3

Is the move to new location permanent and if not will the Memorial be put back in the original location?

The Board of the Irish Memorial spent a significant amount of time in the original site selection process and determined that the current location was most desirable for the type of park contemplated.  Since that time, we have invested significantly in promoting the site as a destination.  The Board has had assurances for the various stakeholders that the Irish Memorial will be re-built on the original site.  

So, the short answer is a resounding NO to a permanent relocation and YES to returning to its original home. 

4

Do you feel the City Administration is aware of the importance of the Memorial and its impact beyond the City?

Yes, there is no doubt that the City Administration is aware of the Memorial’s importance to the City and beyond.  That vision was clearly understood by then Mayor Ed Rendell who was a huge supporter and champion of the Memorial.  He saw this project as not only a great piece of public art, but as a destination for visitors from all over the country.   The actual reach extends well beyond the US.  

Today, we have some incredible advocates for the Irish Memorial including Mayor Kenney, Councilman Squilla and Councilman Henon.  This support extends to the state and federal levels as well.  The Irish Memorial has afforded the City the opportunity to welcome several foreign dignitaries, including Ireland’s former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

As importantly, they understand what the Irish Memorial is; that it is not a singular statue but an entire unified park consisting of information stations, native plantings and standing stones.  It is a contemplative space that tells the story of the Irish Starvation.  

5

If at all, how has this complicated process affected your view of the Irish Memorial?

Sure, this project has affected, not only our view, but our vision for the Irish Memorial.  As you might imagine, it’s very emotional for the Irish community and for those who have worked for almost 30 years to bring this project to fruition.  As an organization, The Irish Memorial on behalf of our community, raised and has spent over $3.5 million to develop and maintain the Irish Memorial Park. The sculpture was less than a third of that cost. The remainder was spent on transforming a vacant and stark concrete site into a vibrant public space that is a tribute to the immigrant history of our people and the city itself. 

The Irish Memorial is visited by thousands of local, national and international visitors each year. It has hosted Supreme Court Justices, foreign leaders, Senators, Governors, Mayors, Council Members, but even more importantly people from every walk of life. 

Our immediate goal is to find an appropriate temporary site and then work to re-build the Irish Memorial back to its current location when the new park is complete.  It will certainly be a large undertaking and will require, as before, the continued support of the Irish Community.

It is always amazing and humbling when you find out how much the Irish Memorial means to people that you never knew. Just this week we had a meeting with a local cultural institution and one of its executives brought along one of a series of paintings her husband had made of the Irish Memorial. Or the video that a tourist from Spain made and posted on his Facebook page. Or the family that every year holds a run for charity that ends at the Irish Memorial. Or the association of historians that as part of their symposium have an image of the Irish Memorial. Or the many individuals, who bring their people to it every day.

Now more than ever, it has strengthened my resolve and that of every member of our Board to ensure that the Irish Memorial will not be diminished in any way.  Our vision is to incorporate what we have learned as stewards of the Irish Memorial over the past sixteen years to make the new site even more inviting, engaging and lasting.