Committee considers locations for Johnny Appleseed statue; staff says restoration nearly complete

Parks and Recreation Committee members discussed possible locations for the Johnny Appleseed statue on June 4 and heard from staff that the statue restoration is nearly finished and can be reinstalled once a new concrete base is installed.

The committee reviewed three options in the meeting packet for Old Orchard Park: within the park clearing away from flood-prone areas, at the upper entrance near West Granville Street, or along the upper portion of the trail. A committee member said option 2, at the entrance, “gives it the greatest visibility,” while another member said a tucked location along the trail would create a pleasant discovery for pedestrians and cyclists.

Staff noted a preference for Option 1 (in the clearing) as the formal staff recommendation; Alyssa, parks staff, said the statue is about “90% complete” with final waterproofing and attachment work pending and that placement can occur “as soon as this week” once the concrete base is ready. She said rebar was used to straighten the statue's attachment to its Catawba base during rehabilitation.

Committee members discussed trade-offs: visibility to deter vandalism versus creating a scenic discovery point on the trail, visual connections to the Old Orchard Park sign, and avoiding placement adjacent to utility poles or too close to crosswalks that might confuse pedestrians. Members also noted nearby development to the west (a commercial/industrial area) could increase the site's visibility in the future.

No formal site selection vote was taken. Staff said they do not need a definitive decision immediately and will continue coordination, including moving a temporary park sign if needed to align visuals with the final statue location.