The city of Augusta, Georgia, is making room for a major upgrade, but not without careful consideration. The iconic James Brown statue in the Augusta Common area is being temporarily relocated as downtown renovations begin.
According to USA Today, the statue will be moved to a climate-controlled space at the Augusta Museum of History to keep it safe during construction. Once the upgrades are complete, it will be returned to Broad Street as part of the new James Brown Linear Park.
The “Godfather of Soul” was raised in Augusta and spent much of his life there. He even helped unveil the statue himself back in 2005, and it’s become one of the city’s most visited landmarks.
City officials say this move is just the beginning of a larger plan to honor James Brown’s legacy and bring more beauty and green space to downtown Augusta.