By: Kate Kimmel
The Fernandina Beach Historic District Council voted unanimously Thursday that it would be appropriate to place the Pirates Club’s commissioned statue at the new Amelia River Waterfront Park.
The vote followed a recent decision to keep the original Peg Leg Pete statue as a permanent installation at the Amelia Island Museum of History. Since that decision, city staff have worked with the Pirates Club to identify a suitable location for the statue commissioned from artist Jett Paxton.
The club’s initial application proposed placing the statue on the pedestal near the train depot where Peg Leg Pete had previously stood, but that proposal did not advance to the City Commission.
If approved by the City Commission, the statue would be installed under a one-year lease agreement with the Fernandina Pirates Club. City Attorney Teresa Prince said a one-year lease qualifies the statue as a temporary installation. If the lease were to exceed one year, the statue would be considered permanent and would need to be owned by the city.
“The purpose of the one year is to see if it’s a good spot for it, if it holds up there,” co-applicant and downtown district coordinator Katie Newton said.
Pirates Club President Joe Brown said the organization would be willing to gift the statue to the city as a permanent installation if it is well-received by the public.
Newton said the statue’s name will be revealed during the waterfront park’s opening ceremony.
Historic District Council members raised concerns about protecting the statue, noting that the original Peg Leg Pete statue was damaged by people climbing on it. Council member James Pozzetta suggested the statue be placed on a base high enough to prevent people from reaching it or surrounded by landscaping that would discourage visitors from climbing.
Newton said the current plan calls for the statue to sit on a circular concrete base with a finish designed to match the rest of the park. The base would be similar to those used for other waterfront park features, including the anchor and shrimp boat memorial.
The proposed location for the statue is near the children’s play area.
Council member Tammi Kosack expressed concern about the statue’s protective coating, saying that placing it outdoors in a high-traffic area could cause paint to wear away over time. She recalled participating in a turtle statue art project that required strict top-coating standards, noting that statues without proper coating deteriorated quickly.
Brown said that if necessary, maintenance of the statue would be added to the club’s bylaws.
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