The first step in the process to move the Carl Sandburg statue to its permanent home began on Wednesday.
The Galesburg Public Art Commission and Galesburg city leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony at Central Park, which will be the statue's permanent home. The statue will be placed on a pedestal in the park. Accent lighting and memorial flags will also be part of the memorial to Sandburg.
“What we hope to have the community take away is a great sense of the impact of Carl Sandburg and his diversified talents. Not only in writing, but also in the arts in his songs, even some of his dance,” said Chuck Bednar, who chairs the commission.
Bednar also said it was important to begin the process of moving the statue to its future home in the park. It has been located in a building on Broad Street since its arrival to Galesburg last year.
“We didn’t want to wait any longer. We felt that as it was erected, people would see it, they would admire it, and they would want to make a contribution to the Sandburg memorial,” Bednar said.
The group is hoping to raise around $75,000 to complete the quarter-million dollar project.
Bednar said the installation should be complete by the end of the year.
