‘Forever Marilyn’ statue sparks reaction from local officials, tourists

"I am pleased that the city will not have to spend more funds and time on this."

That's how Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein feels about closing the book on a three-year-long legal battle over the placement of the iconic "Forever Marilyn" statue in downtown Palm Springs.

"I just wish it had been in a manner that was less divisive to our community," Bernstein continued.

The City of Palm Springs announced yesterday it had settled its lawsuit with the Committee to Relocate Marilyn. As a part of the settlement, the mayor says Palm Springs will pay $350,000 for the committee's lawyers.

The statue will be moved from its current location on Museum Way – in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum – to the Downtown Park. The new location is a stone's throw away from the current location.

The city will not pay for this relocation. Instead the cost falls on PS Resorts, a nonprofit that promotes tourism in downtown Palm Springs. The nonprofit is the owner of the towering statue.

Tourists I spoke to today came from Orange County, New York, and even as far as Poland.

Lilliam Rivera, a tourist from Los Angeles, was showing her sister the downtown area today. Rivera has been to Palm Springs several times before. She says the statue is an iconic part of downtown Palm Springs – and that the move will further enhance the statue.

"It'll just add a little bit more mystique to it. I feel like it won't matter. Like, people will look out for her and do a Google search for it," she says.

Others, though, like Nicole Hicks, visiting from Orange County, wishes the statue didn't have to move.

“I think there are other things that deserve more time and energy than moving a statue. Personally, I think Marilyn is perfect where she is," she explains. “I feel that Marilyn pulls people in and if she is moved over there, you won't see her as much. And I think she's an icon that deserves to be shown.”

Marilyn's new home is currently surrounded by tall palm trees, which some, like Hicks, think will block the view.

Others I spoke to are concerned that the statue will be vandalized at its new location.

For Mayor Bernstein, though, he hopes that the city can turn the page on the 'Forever Marilyn' saga. "Hopefully, you know, we'll come to closure and everybody in the end will see a positive benefit."

Looking ahead, Bernstein says the relocation should be complete by March 1st of next year. He also says that Museum Way, the road that "Forever Marilyn" currently stands on, will remain a pedestrian walkway after the move is complete.