The long standing Confederate monument in the center of Munn Park and the city of Lakeland will soon be moved somewhere else.
A team of city workers researched several sites and have narrowed the site down to two potential locations. One is Veterans Memorial Park, which has other monuments dedicated to veterans.
The other option is Roselawn Cemetery, which already has several Confederate monuments and graves.
“I think it fits because if it’s in a veterans park, it makes sense as a piece of history,” resident Lauren Presson said.
“Why move it from where it’s at, to move it somewhere just as public?” resident Serena Lear said.
City officials admit that both locations have potential issues.
“Veterans Park is on top of the whole RP Funding Center footprint that used to be a black American community there, so we are sensitive to that. Roselawn Cemetery is adjacent to another cemetery which is a traditional African American, very old cemetery,” City Spokesperson Kevin Cook told WFLA.
The cost has been another point of contention.
“We have a proposal from the same company that moved some of the monuments in Hillsborough County and that cost is $150,000,” Cook said.
Lakeland City Commissioners will ultimately decide. No discussions or votes have been scheduled.
