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Forest Grove veterans group presents $220,000 design plan for a tribute park
Summary
The Forest Grove Veterans Action Network outlined plans for an inclusive veterans 'tribute park,' thanked the committee for a $220,000 design grant, identified preferred sites (Thatcher Park, Lincoln Park, Lower Forest Glen Park), and said a finalized design is planned for August to support an Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs grant application.
Members of the Forest Grove Veterans Action Network presented a concept design for a community 'tribute park' honoring military service and thanked the committee for a $220,000 grant to fund the design phase.
"My name is Tim Rippey. I am tonight acting in the capacity as the chair of the Forest Grove Veterans Action Network," said Tim Rippey, who outlined design goals including accessibility, branch seals, seating for reflection, a flagpole and QR codes for educational material. Rippey emphasized the group’s intention to honor service generally rather than focusing on specific conflicts or individual names.
Rippey said the group has narrowed potential locations to sites in Lincoln Park (two possible spots), Thatcher Park and Lower Forest Glen Park and noted that public surveys show Thatcher Park as the preferred site and Lincoln Park as the second choice. He said the $220,000 award is for design only; construction funding will require additional fundraising and potential inclusion in the city’s parks master plan.
The group expects to complete a final design by August, present it to the Parks and Recreation Commission in September and return to the council in October to align with the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs grant application timeline. Rippey said the group is considering possible future expansion to include first responders, but that is outside the current grant scope.
Next steps: staff and the veterans group will continue public engagement and finalize a design to meet the state grant application schedule.
