Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost and Salt Lake City Council Member Chris Wharton, both representing the Capitol Hill neighborhood, issued the following statement after learning the Liberty Arch will no longer move forward at the Capitol Hill site:
“As we acknowledge the recent announcement that the proposed Grand Liberty Arch Monument is no longer slated for Salt Lake City’s Capitol Hill, we would like to thank artist Sabin Howard for his gracious words about Salt Lake, our state, and its wonderful communities.
The Capitol and the public spaces around it mean a great deal to both the people who live nearby and to Utahns across the state. As residents began raising concerns, it became clear that the approval process for the arch must be improved by ensuring robust community engagement and feedback. It is important to the integrity of our neighborhoods that people are given a meaningful voice in decisions that will shape the community for generations. Capitol Hill community members spoke up because they love this neighborhood, its history, its green space, its trees, and the architectural character that makes it unique.
We hope this outcome is a reminder that listening to communities matters and these sorts of decisions should be made with the public, not just for the public. As conversations continue about how we tell Utah’s story and honor our shared history, we hope those efforts bring people together and lead to public spaces that all Utahns feel connected to.”
