Some people in Cocoa Beach want to see a statue honoring surfing legend Kelly Slater moved from the busy intersection where it stands.

  • Statue of surfer Kelly Slater erected in Cocoa Beach in 2010
  • It's on the corner of State Road A1A and N. Orlando Avenue
  • Some say lack of parking, sidewalks is dangerous for fans

The Kelly Slater statue has been at Triangle Park at the State Road A1A split near downtown since it was unveiled in 2010.

But the area doesn't have crosswalks or sidewalks on a roadway that sees thousands of cars daily, so people wanting to see it and take pictures must skirt traffic to get into the small park.

Matt and Jenny Russell, brother-and-sister tourists from California, walked along the road Tuesday to see the Slater tribute.

"They should put in a sidewalk or something. It's kind of weird with all the cars whizzing by you," Matt Russell said.

Tony Sasso was a city commissioner when the statue was put in. He was against the location, citing safety concerns.

"There's no parking by the statue, so they park across the street. I see kids all the time running across to climb on it and get their picture taken," Sasso said.

The city of Cocoa Beach said it hasn't gotten any official complaints about the location and there are currently no plans to move it.


(Greg Pallone, staff)