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Gladwin County seeks state help to replace deteriorating veterans wall with new park
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Summary
Officials from Gladwin County asked for about $500,000 in state assistance to replace a failing veterans wall with a park on the courthouse east side; presenters described phased costs (phase 1 cleanup $300,000; phase 2 marble $200,000; phase 3 $50,000) and noted limited local fundraising capacity.
Gladwin County representatives told the appropriations subcommittee that the county’s veterans memorial wall has deteriorated to the point that adding names risks further structural damage and that a replacement Veterans Park is the preferred approach.
"The wall has deteriorated due to the elements and time," Gladwin County presenters said, and county officials said they prefer to replace the memorial with a park setting that contains granite slabs honoring service eras and provides safer, more accessible space for Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
Presenters said the multi‑phase project is shovel‑ready in parts and that the county has raised about $80,000 and received a $50,000 appropriation from the Charles J. Strosacker fund. They described a total project figure of about $550,000 plus ongoing operating and maintenance and requested state support for phases one and two totaling roughly $500,000. Committee members asked for clarity on the phased costs; presenters provided a breakdown (phase 1: $300,000 for cleanup; phase 2: $200,000 for the marble; phase 3: $50,000; figures cited as 2024 prices).
Speakers emphasized the county’s limited local ability to fund the project — noting a per‑capita income cited in testimony and a 13.2% poverty rate — and asked the committee to consider state assistance to preserve veterans’ recognition and create a safer site for community reflection.
