Winter Park’s long-anticipated tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. officially opened to the public on July 12, 2025, but with a little bit of controversy, according to People Magazine.
The new memorial sits in a plaza that has been named Unity Corner, and anchors the corner of Denning Drive and Morse Boulevard in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. It centers around a nine-foot bronze statue of Dr. King standing atop concentric granite benches, designed to symbolize the ripple effect of his life’s work.
Created by Alabama-based sculptor Andrew Luy (Website), the piece, entitled “Ripple,” was part of a $450,000 public art investment approved by the city in early 2024. The memorial also includes engraved walls bearing civil rights quotes and the names of displaced Black families that were removed from the area to make way for the park in the 1950s, which was originally named Lake Island Park but renamed in June 2012 to honor Dr. King.
While the dedication ceremony was meant to celebrate a historic addition to the community, public reaction has been divided. Some attendees have expressed disappointment on social media, criticizing the sculpture’s physical proportions and overall resemblance to Dr. King.
Despite the backlash, city officials have been cautious in their response. Winter Park Mayor Sheila DeCiccio acknowledged the intensity of public criticism but emphasized the time, effort, and taxpayer money already invested in the project. Meanwhile, artist Andrew Luy defended his work, noting that the statue had been approved through a public art process and received favorable feedback in earlier phases, including, according to Luy, from individuals connected to the King family estate.
