'Landmark Monument' would be a beacon, drawing people to Ocala-Marion County veterans park

A proposed 50-foot-tall red, white and blue lighted monument for the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park – part of a park support group's five-year enhancement plan – may be one step closer to reality.

The lofty monument, known as the Landmark Monument, would be placed near the busy corner of Southeast 25th Avenue and East Silver Springs Boulevard, right near the park at 2601 E. Fort King St.

The private, nonprofit park support group, called the Friends of Marion County's Veterans Park Foundation (FMCVP), recently hosted local governmental officials for a presentation by Missouri-based monument and memorial maker Johnson Granite Supply, which has built a similar landmark monument in Nebraska.

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Proponents believe the Landmark Monument would become a community focal point and serve as a beacon drawing visitors to the park.

"This is for the whole community," said Ron Oppliger, chairman of FMCVP.

A PowerPoint presentation by Tripp Johnson, president of Johnson Granite Supply, covered designs and costs for the Landmark Monument and a proposed Korean War Memorial and also provided information on several suggested memorials for the park.

Concept drawings of the Landmark Monument show three vertical 23-foot-tall solid granite slabs arranged like a tripod, topped by a cast bronze Bald Eagle and flagpole that would be lighted at night.

A circular concrete pad with eight benches would surround the base and make an inviting atmosphere for visitors and reflection. Johnson stated before the meeting that a similar monument was placed at a veterans park in West Point, Nebraska, in 2017, and that monument, bathed in red, white and blue lights at night, has become a "destination point.”

Each solid granite slab weighs about 16,000 pounds and must be hauled in on a flatbed trailer.

The early cost estimate for the Landmark Monument, pad and benches is approximately $260,000, with additional crane and site expenses for installation.

Another monument also is contemplated

A six-sided Korean War Memorial would pay tribute to those who served and be made up of India Black Granite panels describing battles of the Korean War, including the battles of Osan and Chosin Reservoir.

The Korean War Memorial would be topped by a cast aluminum figure of a Korean War-era GI wearing a poncho, and the entire memorial would measure about 12 feet in height. The soldier figure would likely be visible from the nearby roadway and also draw people into the park.

Preliminary estimates for the Korean War Memorial and two benches are about $230,000 and do not include a crane and site work for installation.

Oppliger emphasized the roughly $490,000 needed for both the Landmark Monument and Korean War Memorial would come from “private, non-taxpayer" monies from donations.

"We have support from the community and we are looking for donations," Oppliger said.

An FMCVP official said the group will begin seeking donations once the Master Plan is approved.

Oppliger hopes the recent meeting will expedite the process to order, make and place the monument, a process that will take up to 18 months. He said the monument has been a goal of the FMCVP group for nearly two years.

A Master Plan is in the works

The five-acre park, which opened in 1997, is within the city limits and operated by the county. Jim Couillard, director of Marion County Parks & Recreation, who attended the presentation, stated in a follow up email that a Master Plan for placing the monuments and surrounding pad and benches should be ready in about 30 days.

He said the draft will be presented for review by Jeffrey Askew, director of the Marion County Veterans Service Office, and FMCVP officials to "make sure we (staff and the Friends) are on the same page. After that, we’ll take that plan to the (Marion County) Board of County Commissioners for approval."

The Master Plan will be addressed as part of an agenda Item at a regular county commission meeting.

"Once the Master Plan is approved, we can start chipping away at it. This is all based on gaining approvals from our board, so getting a timeline on when we are constructing something that is not in our capital budget and has no real plans developed (civil engineering, structural, geotechnical, etc.) is a bit complex," Couillard wrote.

“(P)articipation is key to good park design and we will be asking the public to express their opinions on the overall layout of their park,” Couillard stated.

Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn and Marion County Commissioner Craig Curry were also on hand for the presentation.

FMCVP has a vision for this important park

The FMCVP, a volunteer group of local individuals and businesspeople, banded together about two years ago with the common cause of preserving the history of the park and existing memorials while adding memorials to Vietnam War and post-Vietnam War era veterans, including those who served in the Global War on Terrorism.

FMCVP's vision includes making the park a place of "living history" with more background etched on the memorials, and making the park "family friendly" to attract younger veterans.

Pam Driggers, battalion chief with Marion County Fire Rescue and vice chair of FMCVP, said drawing youth to the park is especially important.

Driggers said children can visit and learn at the Veterans Exhibit and Education Center on park grounds.

“So they don’t forget those from Marion County who served and gave their lives,” she said.

For more information on Friends of Marion County’s Veterans Park call 352-804-6953 or email at info@marionvetpark.com.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Monument planned for Ocala, Florida veterans park