Parks board recommends Alexander Stoddard statue donation at Bayview to city council

The Pensacola Parks and Recreation Board voted to recommend that city council accept a donation agreement from the Pensacola Historical Society for an Alexander Stoddard statue to be installed at Bayview.

Board members said they reviewed the donation agreement included in the meeting packet and noted the statue will sit near the park tower between two buildings and will be accompanied by landscaping work. The presenter explained the statue will depict Alexander Stoddard walking with a large Saint Bernard and described placement in a currently underused planter bed.

One board member urged caution about long‑term maintenance costs and community representation, saying the board should avoid "encumbering the city taxpayers with something that they're gonna have to maintain." The Historical Society presentation and board packet review did not surface documented negative findings about the subject, the board was told, and the Historical Society vetted the nominee.

Karen Price made the motion to forward the donation agreement to city council; the motion was seconded and carried. The item will next be considered by city council, and if the council concurs the donor agreement will govern placement and initial landscaping with future maintenance arrangements to be clarified with parks staff.

Board members asked staff to verify landscaping and maintenance responsibilities in the donation agreement before council action.