Commission hears concept, fundraising push for Veterans Park fountain; $7,800 currently raised

Commissioner Ken Bridal presented a conceptual design and fundraising plan for a new water feature and plaza at Veterans Park, seeking community donations, corporate support and coordination among city groups to complete the project.

Bridal said a community design contest had produced a student-winning design and that the team had since worked with architect Joseph Pazzulli and vendor Boulder Fountains to develop a practical, low-maintenance concept. He told the commission some earlier pledged funding of about $40,000 was withdrawn months ago; staff confirmed the project currently holds roughly $7,800 in restricted fountain funds, of which $5,000 came from a private donor that Bridal identified in the meeting.

Bridal asked the commission to consider allocating CRA dollars and to pursue additional fundraising; he said he personally pledged $500 on the meeting floor. The conceptual plan includes a seat-ringed base with etched dedication bricks to honor veterans, lighting and a single boulder fountain element with an overall height in the neighborhood commissioners discussed (six feet was referenced as a practical upper limit), and replicas of service-branch emblems on the base. Bridal and partners said the bricks would be produced by a vendor who holds donor accounts and runs periodic production runs for etched bricks, a model that would allow phased fundraising and installation.

Community groups and residents voiced support and offered suggestions. Daryl Reynolds of Keep Flagler Beach Beautiful described recent volunteer cleanup and a $5,000 grant application to support away-from-home recycling; Flagler Beach Creates co-chair Jessica Marsan pledged support from the arts community. Multiple speakers urged the commission to develop an overall parks plan first and coordinate existing ad hoc groups, emphasizing a comprehensive approach before large purchases.

Commissioners asked staff to invite the stakeholders to the ad hoc parks committee meeting on July 9 so the groups can coordinate design, fundraising and grant opportunities. Bridal said vendors estimated some elements could be delivered in weeks after an order, but larger sculptural alternatives could be substantially more expensive; he cited different cost ranges during the discussion, including an early rule-of-thumb estimate near $30,000 for a basic installation and substantially higher figures (six digits) for large custom stone sculpture options. Commissioners and residents stressed the need for a coordinated design plan and agreed to ask staff to convene the interested parties for a joint discussion and next steps.