"Shift Change," which will be placed at the Mining Memorial Park, was unveiled during Art on the Green.
The image of an older miner leading a younger miner immortalized in bronze was revealed to residents during the annual River Festival celebration last weekend.
The statue, titled "Shift Change" was sculpted by Green River artist Bryan Cordova.
His design was selected by the Green River Arts Council last year during Art on the Green to represent miners at the Mining Memorial Park near the Green River Visitors Center.
Jeiremy Gomez, chairman of the Green River Arts Council, said a lighting ceremony is planned for Oct. 30, featuring a mine rescue team demonstration.
Gomez said Oct. 30, coincides with National Mine Rescue Day and discussions with surface and mine rescuers to help residents understand how important the roles are to a mine. The arts council spent the last year conducting a fundraising drive to have the statue completed and placed in the park.
Arts council members sold bricks and pavers for the park while soliciting donations from area industries.
The total cost of the sculpture, according to documents provided by the City of Green River earlier this year, was $96,500. The city donated $20,000 to help place the statue. The Sweetwater County Commissioners were also approached to fund the statue, but the commissioners never followed up on the request.
The Mining Memorial Park started as a place to show the area's mining history through the equipment used in the area. The park started with donations from the area's trona mines, with other donations planned from other sections of the county's mineral extraction industries.
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