Parks Panel Allows Menorah

KENOSHA, WI — A menorah can be displayed in a city park under newly created standards.

The city’s Board of Park Commissioners established a new set of polices for placing religious symbols in Civic Center and Veterans Memorial parks on Monday.

These actions were spurred by a request from Chabad of Kenosha to place an 8-foot menorah in Civic Center Park for the celebration of Hanukkah Dec. 4-13. The request was initially turned down by Park Director Art Strong due to city policy of not allowing any kind of sign or symbol to be displayed on city park property.

That decision was appealed by Chabad, and the Board of Park Commissioners upheld that appeal last week. But Monday’s action allows the menorah to go on display, providing the newly established conditions are met.

The basic standards include getting approval from the city, applying 30 days before the requested placement, having $1 million insurance coverage and a $50 application fee with additional costs for using power.

All religious displays will be accompanied with a sign indicating the display was provided by a private organization and it does not constitute an endorsement by the city. Religious displays are also limited to 30 days of use.

Civic Center and Veterans Memorial are the two designated parks in the policy because they are not in a neighborhood, Strong said.

The only dissenting vote came from Don Ruef.

“There’s too much controversy,” Ruef said. “I have nothing against this request (for a menorah) specifically, but I just don’t believe in giving someone the opportunity to create problems.”

Alderman Julia Robinson said the city was already dealing with these issues.

“We already opened that door when we allowed a Mass in Pennoyer Park and allowed them to display a cross,” Robinson said, also citing the Mount Carmel Church festival in Columbus Park. “We’ve allowed that, and there is no difference.”

Alderman Kenneth Polzin Jr., who is not on the board, wished the issue was given some more time.

“You should defer this so people can have more input,” Polzin said. “This may be more appropriate if it were done through the libraries or museums. … Symbols mean different things over time, and for the Parks Department to decide what things mean seems to be outside of the department.”

Robinson said she felt the board was up to that task.

“I trust the people on the Board of Park Commissioners can look at the issues and see the difference between an organization trying to cause trouble and one that isn’t,” Robinson said.

Robinson also said timing was a factor in bringing this issue forward at this time.

“For the menorah to go on display, we have to get a policy in order,” Robinson said. “That’s why we didn’t want to wait another two weeks.”

Other parks can be used for religious gatherings by permit, such as the Mass, but the request has to be approved by the city.

The city did not have any previous policy specific to religious displays. A pine tree is decorated and lighted each winter season in Kenosha, but it is officially considered a holiday tree.

Supreme Court decisions have said religious displays are allowed on public land if all religious organizations have equal access to the land.