A volunteer committee and representatives of the Special Operations Association presented plans July 22 to the Inyo County Board of Supervisors for an Independence memorial park to honor Major General John K. Singlaub and Captain James Burcham and to recognize veterans from all branches. The board received the presentation and supervisors asked county staff and the committee to work together on more detailed plans addressing parking, water, maintenance and design.

The proposal calls for creating a small memorial and green space on a roughly 75-by-65-foot parcel south of the courthouse that is now used as an employee/dirt parking area. Don Bright, who represented the Independence Memorial Park Committee, said the group aims to “recognize these outstanding soldiers and honor the contribution of Inyo County soldiers and sailors, airmen, and Marines.” Rick Estes, representing the national Special Operations Association, said the SOA is prepared to help raise funds for construction and maintenance if the county allows use of the site.

Why this matters: the site sits at the heart of Independence’s downtown. Supervisors and residents who spoke during public comment said the corner is highly visible and often functions as a community gathering spot; other supervisors raised questions about displacing county employee parking, long-term maintenance, water for landscaping and whether the county should instead use existing park space.

Discussion and next steps came into focus after public comment and committee responses. Committee member Nancy Masters said the group needs a preliminary nod from the board before it can fundraise and hire a landscape designer to produce the technical plans public works would review. County staff signaled willingness to re-engage. A county administrator told the board he would meet with the committee and public works to “integrate the comments” heard at the meeting and bring back a more refined concept for future consideration.

Board members emphasized they were not voting to approve construction or to transfer land. Several supervisors said they support honoring veterans but want answers about practical matters first. Supervisor Trina Orel (vice chair) and others asked for more detail on how many parking spaces would be displaced and where employees would park; committee members said they were seeking to minimize displacement and were exploring low‑maintenance planting and permeable paving.

Public commenters — including veterans and residents from Independence and Lone Pine — supported the memorial, describing Singlaub’s and Burcham’s service and saying a visible memorial would be appropriate. Committee and SOA speakers said there is a pending California Natural Resources grant application that requires early submission; they said they would withdraw the application if the board chose not to support the concept.

The board did not adopt any ordinance or motion regarding the parcel. The outcome: presentation received, no formal action. County staff agreed to meet with the committee and public works to produce more detailed, staff‑reviewable designs and cost estimates for the board to consider at a later date.

What’s next: county administration said it will reengage with the committee and public works to attempt to resolve questions about parking layout, water supply and maintenance responsibilities and then return to the board with a refined proposal and any recommended actions.