Corby skater statue rides back into parkway after repairs
By Cameron Montemayor
St. Joseph residents and trail enthusiasts can welcome back a new and improved old friend after it was stolen from the Northwest Parkway in early March.
St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities put the finishing touches on installation of the bronze Corby skater statue Thursday morning. The statue was stolen in early March and later discovered in Andrew County on March 26.
The statue is one of three in the “Catch Me If You Can” statue display. It was sent to Kansas City conservator Machine Head for repairs and improvements, a $7,000 repair cost.
St. Joseph residents and sisters Shirley Lawrence and Leila Hicks were overjoyed to see the return of the statue with a fresh new look during their walk on Friday.
“We’re thrilled to have it back,” Lawrence said. “We walk this trail every day for a long time.”
The statues are now irreplaceable if stolen and not recovered. The original artist, Rosie Sandifer, has retired the series and the specific molds have been destroyed.
A frequent bike rider on the parkway system, South Side resident Monroe Rose, was thrilled to see the statue back but laments theft problems that have plagued the fan-favorite statue series.
“I ride the whole parkway,” he said. “They have been here my whole life as far as I remember, and it’s kind of sad to see anybody ever touch them.”
Officials suspect the statue was originally cut off near the ankle by some kind of saw. No suspects have been named in connection with the theft.
“Because of the situation that keeps occurring, a camera should definitely be set up or GPS location,” Rose said. “Who would take that? It’s like stealing heritage right out of St. Joe.”
Parks officials have previously said there are no plans to relocate the display within the park or to another location despite repeated theft and vandalism over the last few years.
As the summer sun shines and foot traffic ramps up across St. Joseph’s parks and trail system, residents can once again enjoy one of the Northwest Parkway’s artistic centerpiece.
