Many Sandwich residents are upset with Windsor City Council's decision to place a large monument of Chief Tecumseh and General Brock in the middle of a proposed roundabout at Riverside Dr. and University Ave. W.
Rendering of the proposed Sandwich Roundabout, provided by Windsor City Council.
Mary Ann Cuderman, chair of the Sandwich Towne Business Improvement Association, says they are concerned the monument will not be accessible to community members and tourists. They fear people will not appreciate the meaning behind the statue if they only drive by it.
"Does anybody stop to see what does that statue represent? Why is that statue there? What is it representing? Oh it's just something nice to look at, and I think that's what's going to happen here," says Cuderman.
Many residents would have liked to have seen the statue in Patterson Park, where people could get up close and learn from the monument.
Council voted in favour of the roundabout location to give the statue more exposure and to act as a gateway into Olde Sandwich Towne.
"I think we've hit the nail on the head here with respect to this statue being a gateway, a real proud entrance to Sandwich Towne that is going to look just spectacular," says Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The larger than life statue would cost around $381,000.
The road construction is budgeted for $850,000, and was a part of the 2017 Enhanced Capital Budget.
Clay model Chief Tecumseh provided by Windsor City Council.