Hope Mills Veterans Memorial Park's future in question due to an NCDOT widening project

Recently the North Carolina Department of Transportation began to mark off locations affected by the widening project on Rockfish Road, and some residents of Hope Mills were worried.

What would happen to their beloved Veterans Memorial Park, especially with Memorial Day quickly approaching?

As a result, several residents crowded into town hall during the May 2 meeting of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners. But before they could speak, Mayor Jackie Warner relayed her plan to address the concerns of residents, particularly veterans.

Warner, who has family members in the military, said she understood the importance of the park.

“When you talk about concerns over the veterans’ memorial, know that it concerns me also,” she said.

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Warner then proposed an ad hoc committee, appointed by herself, of members from the Veterans Council, and the parks and recreation, appearance and sunshine committees. Commissioner Joanne Scarola would also participate as a liaison from the Board of Commissioners.

The committee will come up with recommendations for the relocation or renovation of the Hope Mills Veterans Memorial Park. It will not discuss funding, according to Warner.

“We’ve got to try to be proactive in this situation,” she said. “We’ll all work hard to make this happen.”

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NCDOT project in the works for years

Despite concerns over the impact on the park arising now, the NCDOT project has been in the works for years.

The $24.8 million widening project is to help ease traffic congestion on Rockfish Road. NCDOT will build a roundabout at the intersection of Rockfish Road and Park Boulevard, build a sidewalk on the inside section of Rockfish Road and along Park Boulevard, and connect the sidewalk to the existing walkway.

Construction will likely begin in early 2023 and take two years to complete, according to NCDOT spokesperson Andrew Barksdale.

“There are a lot of pedestrians who use this road and intersection with Park Boulevard, where the veterans memorial site is, and the roundabout will be a big safety improvement,” Barksdale said. “In addition, roundabouts improve vehicular safety, slow drivers down and improve traffic flow.”

The NCDOT held a meeting in 2019 to get public input on the project, and more than 100 attended, according to Barksdale.

“We have no record of anyone commenting or asking questions about any impacts of our project to the veterans memorial site,” he said.

In an interview this week, Warner said that in 2019 the town’s focus had been on the traffic circles near Bolt Drive and the construction of a new public safety center.

“I don’t think there was ever a thought of how it would impact the rest of the area until [NCDOT] put stakes out there [near the park],” Warner said.

Impact on Hope Mills Veterans Memorial Park

The widening project will encroach on some of the fenced-off lawn at the park’s perimeter, according to Barksdale. It will also connect the walkway to the V-shaped statute with the new sidewalk.

“Although we will need to acquire some of the lawn area within the veterans memorial site, our project will not actually cover where the artillery monument, the little park benches or the V-shaped statute are currently situated,” he said. “The impacts to the memorial will be minimal.”

Barksdale added that NCDOT has been communicating with Hope Mills throughout the development of the project. He said the state agency is scheduled to meet with town staff soon to “resolve any issues they may raise.”

Warner said that the newly created ad hoc committee has already started working on a new plan for the park. She expects some recommendations in June.

Warner added that some of the concerned residents have since discovered that the widening project will ultimately be a good thing. It means the memorial can move to a bigger park, and it means the population of Hope Mills has grown.

“I think the reaction has now been changed to a positive,” she said. “We’ve calmed the waters.”

Reporter Ivey Schofield can be reached at ischofield@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Hope Mills Veterans Memorial Park's future now in question