The Stratford and District Horticultural Society will be receiving a loan to finish work on the Freeland Fountain.

The loan – for $6,750 – would go toward purchasing a replica of the original Goddess of Liberty statue that once graced the top of the memorial. City council – sitting as the finance and labour relations committee – approved the loan at Monday night's meeting.

Though fundraising is under way, the society was able to locate a replica that costs thousands less than originally expected. In order to purchase the statue, a loan request was necessary.

The loan is to be repaid by the end of November.