Columbus Council Approves $500,000 To Move Santa Maria Replica

The city of Columbus has discovered it needs to move a replica of the Santa Maria from its downtown river mooring while a multimillion riverfront project continues. The city says the replica of explorer Christopher Columbus' flagship is getting in the way of a $35.5 million project narrowing the Scioto River and adding dozens of acres of green space. The city will spend $500,000 to move the ship to make it easier to work on the park where the ship is situated. Alan McKnight, city Recreation and Parks director, says repairs will be made to the ship's wood deck and other parts during this time. Linda Ketcham, executive director of the nonprofit group Santa Maria, Inc., says about 17,000 visitors board the ship each year.