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Historic board and volunteers offer to lead veterans memorial; staff to coordinate sites and fundraising
Summary
Staff and commissioners discussed creating a veterans memorial on city property with historic board involvement and volunteer fundraising; options include Crockett Park, Brentvale area or near PDHQ, with cost estimates ranging from about $150,000 to $200,000 for a mid-scale design and a target of Memorial Day 2026 if approved and funded.
Commissioners discussed proposals for a permanent veterans memorial on city property. Staff reported the Historic Planning Board expressed interest in leading the effort and that Ashley McAnulty volunteered to chair a project committee and believed she could raise $15,000–$20,000.
Staff presented images and sizing examples of memorial designs. One example installed in 2004 cost about $78,000 at that time; staff offered an updated budget range of roughly $150,000–$200,000 for a comparable mid‑scale monument today. Commissioners emphasized the need to define parameters at the outset so a grass-roots effort does not expand beyond the original intent.
Staff outlined four candidate sites: two locations near the Brentville Cabin in Crockett Park (one flat, visible site with parking and another sloped site closer to the pavilion), a site near PDHQ with available power and security but less year-round visibility, and a potential library-area site that would require archaeological precautions because of known burial remains in portions of the site.
Commissioners discussed trade-offs between visibility, access, security and the memorial’s character (destination versus complementary feature). Several commissioners and staff supported starting with staff-led planning and then partnering with veterans’ groups and volunteer fundraisers; staff said they would return with more refined proposals, site assessments and recommended governance (ad hoc committee or historic board leadership). A target of Memorial Day 2026 was mentioned if the project proceeds and fundraising and approvals align.
No formal vote was recorded; staff was directed to continue outreach to veterans groups and historic board members and return with recommendations on location, committee structure and any seed funding needs.
