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Council adds $290,000 MIA/POW veterans memorial to parks CIP, selects Harris Riles Park for site
Summary
The council approved adding a $290,000 MIA/POW veterans memorial to the five-year parks capital plan; design work is underway and the administration aims to complete construction in time for Veterans Day 2025.
Bedford's City Council unanimously approved adding a $290,000 project to the five-year parks capital improvement plan to build an MIA/POW veterans memorial at Harris Riles Park.
Parks Director Mark Long and consultant MHS Planning & Design presented preliminary concepts that place the memorial on an existing, quiet corner of the park, with a central capstone, seating for reflection, six circular plaques for the armed services emblems and room to incorporate the three existing plaques currently located near City Hall. Long said the design team will try to reuse historic stone salvaged from the Boys Ranch site to reduce cost and preserve local material.
The design includes three flagpoles (U.S., Texas, MIA/POW) with lighting; the scheme does not add parking in the first phase. Long said the consultant will prepare construction documents and a probable cost estimate and that staff expects roughly a seven-month schedule from final design to completion (design March'April; construction documents May'June; bid July; build Aug'Oct; goal substantial completion November 2025). Funding will come from interest earnings on the 2019 park bond; staff said sufficient interest earnings remain to fund the project without tapping principal.
Councilman Steeves moved to add the project to the CIP; Councilman Farco seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the memorial consolidates three long-standing commemorative plaques into a single, permanent site designed for public reflection and education.
