Palm Springs amends downtown plan as push to keep ‘Forever Marilyn’ statue location moves forward
“The Forever Marilyn” statue in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum might be here to stay, but the fight to keep it in its current place isn’t over just yet.
The Palm Springs City Council passed an official resolution to amend the city’s 2016 Downtown Palm Springs Specific Plan which directly affects the statue’s location.
The proposed amendment would permanently vacate or close off that portion of Museum Way, making it a pedestrian walkway going forward, but it doesn’t guarantee Marilyn will stay in her current spot. Instead, Monday’s vote only means the public will not get a chance to directly decide the plan, something Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner says is her reasoning behind being the lone ‘no’ vote.
It all comes after the 'Committee to Relocate Marilyn’ filed a lawsuit, claiming the city illegally closed Museum Way for the placement of this statue.
Its members also say the statue blocks the view of the museum.
"It's not about Marilyn and it's not about the statue, it's about that four to five years the public was given plans for Marilyn Plaza in the park. The point is that based on a decision made in 20 with only two weeks notice it started a rollercoaster of expenses and controversy," said Mark Davis, a local resident.
A court of appeals ruled in favor of that committee in February.
So far, that lawsuit has cost the city more than $350,000 and if it continues, it could cost taxpayers nearly $1 million in a year.
Groups like Protect Our Marilyn and some members of the public hope this amendment means Marilyn will be here to stay, saying the statue brings in tourists and revenue to businesses in the area.
“Art is for everybody and no one should be deciding where it should be or taking it away from someone or moving it. That statue leads people who would never normally go to a museum because of the pop culture aspect of it to the museum,” said John Barrowman, Palm Springs resident.
Statement from David Perry of the Protect our Marilyn campaign
“We want to thank the Palm Springs City Council for their serious consideration and for voting to adopt the initiative ordinance which amends the Downtown Palm Springs Specific Plan to facilitate the vacation of a portion of Museum Way in order to provide permanent pedestrian access and the installation of the “Forever Marilyn” Statue at its present location which has become so cherished a part of downtown. We are hopeful, that after hearing the overwhelming support for keeping the statue in its current location, that those minority voices in opposition will cease from further attempts to block the will of the people at huge taxpayer expense.”
The next steps include approval of the amended plans by several committees and after that happens then the conversation about the statue’s final location could be voted on.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing developments.
