Christopher Columbus statue not returning to park in North End

BOSTON — The Christopher Columbus statue will not return to the park in the North End after an act of vandalism took its head off this past summer.

But the spot won’t remain empty forever.

Boston city officials confirmed that the Knights of Columbus sent a letter to the city offering to incorporate the statue into their new development. The city reached an agreement to have the statue live permanently in their development at 41 Margin Street after the city repairs it.

In place of the Columbus statue will be a new Italian American Immigrant statue for the park, guided by the North End community, city officials said.

The decision comes just days ahead of what is now competingly known as either Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day.

The legacy of the Italian explorer famous for his 1492 voyage has been hotly debated in recent years because of his hostile treatment of indigenous people.

Cox Media Group