Local engineer proposes Ralph Majeski statue for River Heritage Park

Anthony Heddleston, a local civil engineer and Riverdale resident, told the Riverfront Improvement Commission on Feb. (date not specified) that he is organizing a memorial statue to honor Ralph Majeski and asked the commission to recommend a site and provide a letter of support for fundraising.

Heddleston said the project aims to spotlight Majeski’s regional ties and boost interest in civil engineering careers. “We have a desperate need, to get more people interested and excited about civil engineering,” Heddleston said, and described Majeski as “one of the best and brightest engineers that we’ve ever had.”

Heddleston presented two cost envelopes: a lower-budget plaque and model variant he estimated at roughly $5,000–$10,000, and a full bronze statue option estimated at $60,000–$80,000. He said the Polish American Engineers Association, a sculptor in Kraków, and engineering firms including Majeski & Masters have expressed interest in contributing; River Action offered to act as a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for fundraising if a site is identified.

Why it matters: Heddleston framed the project as both historic commemoration and workforce outreach. He noted Majeski’s first chief-engineer commission, the Arsenal Bridge, still stands in the Quad Cities and that next year marks multiple relevant anniversaries. Heddleston also said he had drafted an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) historic-engineered-landmark package for a broader “first-bridge corridor.”

Commissioners and staff discussed siting, scale, durability and flood elevations. Commissioners suggested River Heritage Park and a downstream plaza site as candidates, and flagged practical questions staff would need before signing a letter of support: exact location, scale and whether a dedicated plaza (and its plaza construction) would be needed. Staff noted floodplain and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting and elevation needs could affect foundation and installation costs.

Next steps requested by Heddleston were: a commission recommendation on site suitability, a letter of support to help approach funders (he said the RDA indicated it might offer about 10 percent in prior similar efforts), and staff feedback on plaza design and estimated installation costs. Commissioners suggested Heddleston continue fundraising work and return with a narrowed site and a budget breakdown; one commissioner said a letter of support from the commission would be useful in conversations with potential donors.

Ending: The commission did not vote on a formal commitment at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to work with Heddleston to identify siting, finalize probable installation costs (including flood-elevation work) and return with materials the commission could use to consider a letter of support. Heddleston said he would next contact potential funders and the Majeski firm after securing clearer municipal support.