SARASOTA – The Unconditional Surrender Statue was removed from its location facing Gulfstream Avenue and US 41.
“The move has gone very well, this morning it took a better part of four hours or so to unbolt it and get it on the truck and transport it down to the new location which is behind me,” said Manager of Long Range Planning of the City of Sarasota, David Smith.
The statue was moved a short distance to a new spot in Bayfront Park, near Marina Jacks and O’Leary’s Tiki Bar, about 1,000 feet from where it previously stood.
“City commission chose the new location in November, there was an online poll that was conducted and this spot won that particular poll,” said Smith.
The statue was moved in order to make room for a new roundabout
“The roundabout that is going to be built at gulfstream and US-41, will start construction in a few weeks so we really needed to move the artwork this month because there is going to be some temporary diversion roads in place, where unconditional surrender was there is going to be a road there at least for the next year or so,” said Smith.
The new location was chosen because it was in a prominent space to honor veterans and safe for visitors
“It’s a great picture taking spot, right where I’m standing because behind me we have the water and a lot of trees, “so people can take a good look at unconditional surrender and relax,” said Smith.