KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo's city manager is recommending the removal of a controversial statue near the center of downtown.

In a statement dated March 1, Jim Ritsema said Bronson Park should make everyone feel welcome and comfortable, but growing outcry from activists and indigenous people regarding the Fountain of the Pioneers -- a statue they view as a symbol of white supremacy -- has shown the prominent park is not being enjoyed by all.

The fountain depicts a Native American in headdress standing face-to-face with a settler. Some feel it celebrates the violent removal of indigenous peoples from Kalamazoo, while others say it's a reminder of the city's history -- and of the country's harsh treatment of Native Americans.

"This recommendation is not made lightly and we understand that not everyone will agree," Ritsema said in his letter recommending the fountain be removed. "Our position is that Bronson Park and the entire city of Kalamazoo must be a welcoming place for everyone - and our front porch is open to all."

Ritsema said removing the fountain aligns with the city's goals.

"What really resonated with me is the work we're doing with the Foundation for Excellence and shared prosperity, and our aspirations for racial healing and equity in this community," Ritsema told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. "(We want to) demonstrate our seriousness of that and that we're committed to do that work. I think this is a good first step."

The statement suggests removing the fountain and its pools from Bronson Park and developing a new plan for what to put in its place. If approved by the City Commission Monday, March 5, Ritsema the fountain would be removed his year.

What would happen to the fountain is unclear. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum both have indicated they do not have the required space to hold it.

It would roughly cost $2 million to dismantle and repair the fountain at a new site, according to a city staff report. This option was not recommended by staff.

Another option would be to dismantle the upper sections of the fountain at an estimated cost $70,000 to $100,000. The fountain base would still need to repaired, at a cost of around $1.25 million.

The cheapest option is to demolish the entire fountain complex. A rough staff estimate states it would cost $75,000 to $100,000.

Kalamazoo was three-quarters of the way toward raising $2.8 million for Bronson Park improvements outlined in a master plan unanimously approved in 2016. These plans will continue, Ritsema said, but discard repairs to the concrete fountain complex.

Ritsema said it could be replaced by a new fountain, a children's play area, expanded seating for the stage, or other possibilities to be developed with community input.

The Bronson Park master plan included educational components created in consultation with the indigenous Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi. These will continue.

The fundraiser was put on hold when residents renewed calls to remove what they consider to be a racist monument.

The Fountain of the Pioneers in Bronson Park was covered with a tarp on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017 in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Malachi Barrett | MLive.com)

If a decision is made to remove the fountain, an estimated $1.25 million for the planned fountain and pools rehabilitation would be removed from project. Thirty-four donors gave $515,000 to fund repairs to the fountain.

Donors who contributed could request that their donation be returned, according to a city staff report. Donors will be contacted to explain this new course of action and solicit their continued support.

"We hope that people would come aroudn and realize the larger picture here in the times we're in, but if they don't want to donate or want their donations back, we'll certainly honor that," Ritsema said. "There is a little rist of the credibility of (the city) in terms of fundraising."

Part of a larger Bronson Park design by Midwestern modernist artist Alfonso Iannelli, the statue and fountain display was completed in 1940 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

The fountain has been the focus of debate since it was built, but city officials believed the issue was put to rest after the Bronson Park master plan was approved. The fountain faced a surge in criticism since violent white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia last fall.

Supporters of the fountain say it serves as a grim reminder of America's sins and retains inherent historic value.

An ax and a red substance were discovered by passers-by Friday morning on the Fountain of the Pioneers in downtown Kalamazoo. Submitted by SW Michigan DSA

The city's Historic Preservation Committee recommended to keep the fountain, agreeing that it serves a vital role in educating the public about an admittedly ugly part of history.

Its prominent location and powerful imagery raised a debate over the artist's intentions, the role of public art, the erasure of history and feelings of the survivors of westward expansion.

"Works of art invite interpretation," he said. "They often challenge our thinking and explore uncomfortable ideas or topics. Each of us may experience them differently. While this can make a work of art powerful and moving, it also means that not all works of art are suited for display in all public spaces, for all times."

Some have said a museum is a more appropriate home for the fountain. Others felt it should be destroyed.