{"id":530964,"date":"2026-06-12T04:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T04:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/530964\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T04:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T04:00:09","slug":"historic-statue-to-be-unveiled-in-one-of-the-citys-oldest-parks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/530964\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic statue to be unveiled in one of the city’s oldest parks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The revival of the Black Family statue<\/a> \u2014 and a lasting legacy of San Diego artist Rossie Wade<\/a> \u2014 will be unveiled this Saturday in one of San Diego\u2019s oldest parks.<\/p>\n

The event, part of a Juneteenth celebration<\/a>, is set for 11 a.m. at the Neal Petties Mountain View Park<\/a> at 641 S Boundary St., near 40th St. and Oceanview Blvd.<\/p>\n

Following the unveiling of the statue, there will be free food, a petting zoo, and free performances.<\/p>\n

The original statue was made of painted redwood, which had deteriorated over time.\u00a0 All that remained of Wade\u2019s original creation was its brick and mortar base.\u00a0 The new statue was created to respect and honor Wade\u2019s image of Black values and community pride, as was the case when the original was dedicated in 1974, but this time rendered in stainless steel.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s event signals the end of a decade-long journey to create a replacement for Wade\u2019s original work.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Resident Jeffrey Hayes began the effort by appealing to the city to replace the statue. The idea was initially rejected by a city committee \u2014 but Hayes was relentless in his efforts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

His passion and focus would in time attract a small army of believers in his vision to replace the iconic statue of a Black family: a father, mother, son and daughter reaching for the sky.<\/p>\n

The state of California officially recognized the importance of the statue to the community and dedicated $195,000 to restore the piece.<\/p>\n

It was a float in a Martin Luther King Parade that provided the inspiration and the artist for the new Black Family statue.\u00a0 The float was created by students and a teacher from San Diego College of Continuing Education.\u00a0 Its purpose was to honor Wade, who had been an artist at the college and then largely forgotten.<\/p>\n

Both of Wade\u2019s daughters, Lynn Wade Brown and Carole Boyce, will be in attendance at the dedication.\u00a0 They\u2019ve been anticipating this moment for years, working with Hayes on the quest to replace the statue. They see the work of art as not only a reformation of Black values but also a way to recognize their deceased father\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

Wade\u2019s daughters and Hayes were enthusiastic about the float and the effort and creativity of the float\u2019s creator Mike Bradbury, the resident artist at the college.\u00a0 Bradbury, with his students, w<\/strong>ere responsible for creating <\/strong>the new Black Family statue.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI only wish Dad could know that his legacy has been revived, and it\u2019s now as permanent as steel,\u201d said Boyce.<\/p>\n

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