Chatham-Kent mayor Darrin Canniff explained the reasoning for the location of the Fergie Jenkins statue at last night’s council meeting.
The statue of the Hall of Fame pitcher will be unveiled on June 10 at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
There has been a public outcry to have the statue placed at Rotary Park near Fergie Jenkins Field.
Canniff said that when he first approached Jenkins last year about having a statue in his hometown, the former Chicago Cub said he wanted it at the Civic Centre.
“Bottom-line this is where he (Jenkins) wants it,” Canniff said.
There is also an issue with security, as Canniff said the statue will be safer due to its location across the street from the Chatham police station. He said there will be a security camera on the statue.
If the statue is at Rotary Park, Jenkins would just be considered a baseball player.
“We want people to recognize that he is much more than just a baseball player to Chatham-Kent,” Canniff said, noting the Civic Centre is a more prominent location for the statue.
Sponsors paid for the statue, as well as the pedestal the statue will be erected on. The Chatham-Kent statue will be a replica of one unveiled at Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2022.