Anchorage to Renovate a Prominent Public Space in the Name of Public Safety

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has announced that a fountain feature in the Anchorage Town Square Park will be removed because of illegal activity that contributes to a "barrier and a hiding spot" for people engaging in illegal activity. The mayor declared, "Town Square ought to be a place that is safe and welcoming for everyone." Town Square has been the scene of on-going controversy in Anchorage since it open in 1991 because of issues associated with criminal activity. Others, such as community activists, question whether a public space should be changed to become a less welcoming place for all segments of Anchorage's population including the homeless and young people.

Alaska Dispatch News reporter Devin Kelly writes:

The director of the city's parks and recreation department, John Rodda, said the design of the fountain has posed a maintenance nightmare for years. He said it "really started to give us fits" about three years ago, and the city hasn't maintained it since. With the fountain gone, Rodda said the area will be flattened out and landscaped. A stage for concerts or other events could be set up there, he said. Berkowitz said years of discussion, including a public design workshop in the square two years ago and an analysis by the police department, led to the administration's decision. He said the park should be opened up so people can see from one side to the other — and the consensus is that the fountain needs to go. "This fountain does have history, but it has become something it wasn't intended to be," Berkowitz said.