This sculpture of Karl Sarasin (1815-1886) stands in the park next to the Saint Alban Tor, one of the remaining city gates that dates back to when Basel had walls to protect it. It is a bust of the man and the plinth reads, "Begründer der anlagen auf dem gebiet der ausse-ren stadtgraben" and thank you, Google Translate: "Founder of the facilities in the area of the side city moat."
Sarasin was a member of the Cantonal government (a canton is similar to a state or province) from 1852-62 and 1879-84. He was born in Basel. During his time in office, he supported non-profit housing construction and, as chairman of the Commission for Factory Workers' Relations set up by the Basel Non-Profit Society, called for the construction of workers' houses.
The bust was erected in the park in 1948 based on a marble bust modeled in 1887 by Ferdinand Schlöth and executed by his nephew Achilles Schlöth.
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