Designers show Homer Glen plan for Heritage Park veterans memorial; village aims to bid in April

Designers from the Lakota Group presented detailed renderings and a phase-one implementation plan for Heritage Park at the Homer Glen Village Board meeting on Jan. 6. The first phase centers on a Veterans Memorial, an architectural water feature and a pavilion with restrooms.

Kevin Clark, principal with the Lakota Group, said the plan locates the veterans memorial near the new parking lot and ties the elements together with a tree-lined promenade. The memorial concept includes a curved memorial wall for brass plaques, flagpoles representing the branches of the armed services and a central American and POW flag display. The water feature is designed with programmable jets and lighting; designers proposed native plantings and a red-white-blue seasonal plant palette to create year-round interest.

Clark told trustees the team is mindful of maintenance and durability, and he said the village can "upsize the flag" if desired. He said the design team is "shooting for to go out to bid April" and that the pavilion will have roughly 96 seated capacity with bathrooms and mechanical space for the water feature. Trustees and veterans in attendance praised the design and asked about maintenance, lighting and vandalism protections; staff said pages will be posted on the village website so residents can view renderings and follow progress.

No final construction contract was awarded at the meeting; the presentation serves to advance design approval and move the project toward bidding and permitting. Staff and Lakota Group said they will continue value-engineering and coordination with public works and parks staff before a construction bid package is released.