Palm Springs Committee Approves Bogert Statue Relocation to Village Green

The statue of former Palm Springs Mayor Frank Bogert is one step closer to a new home after the Public Arts Commission voted 5-1 Thursday night to approve relocating it to Village Green in the downtown area. Two members abstained from the vote.

The decision comes with an amendment: any relocation must include an educational component addressing the statue's controversial past. The approval now moves to the Historic Site Preservation Board for review. No timeline has been set for when the statue might actually be moved.

Bogert served as Palm Springs mayor for eight years and remains a significant figure in the city's political history. But for many residents, his legacy is tied to Section 14, a one-square-mile area where hundreds of residents were displaced during large-scale evictions in the mid-20th century. Critics say Bogert played a leadership role during that period.

The statue originally stood in front of Palm Springs City Hall for decades before being removed amid a broader national reckoning over monuments tied to controversial histories. It has remained in city storage while officials debated permanent options.

Section 14 survivor Pearl Devers has strongly opposed relocation, arguing that placing Bogert in a visible location sends the wrong message about whose stories are being honored.

Supporters of the move say placing the statue in a historical context allows the community to openly discuss the city's complex past. The required educational component appears aimed at addressing those concerns.

The Historic Site Preservation Board's review is the next step in the process.