Cape Coral’s newest manatee sculpture, Maija the Manatee, was unveiled Monday at Sirenia Vista Park.
The project was the culmination of a decades-long effort that started in 2003 by four Cape Coral neighbors who wanted to protect local manatees as well as the vacant site off Ceitus Parkway.
Maija Gadient, a Swiss activist who lived in the Cape Coral until recently returning home to Switzerland, is now in her 80s. She was unable to return for the statue’s unveiling. However, more than 20 years ago, Maija gathered three of her neighbors with the intention of protecting the Cape’s manatees.
“This park, Sirenia Vista Park, is here today because of Maija,” said Gigi Yarusso, one of the original foursome. “This manatee statue is here because Meija saw the manatee mothers and babies in the canal behind us, and she knew people needed to protect them.”…