RUSSELLVILLE — The first of three phases — a parking lot — of Veterans Memorial Park in Russellville is almost completed, and the next step is the Walk of Honor, said Bill Eaton, a member of the River Valley Veterans Coalition.
“We’re making steady progress,” Eaton said.
Ground was broken almost a year ago on a 3-acre site in the Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary at 399 Lake Front Drive. The park will be at the east end of the area near Old Shorty Trail.
The last loads of gravel were being brought in last week for the parking lot being built at the east end of the existing lot, Eaton said. And asphalt was scheduled to be installed by the first of this week.
“With the exception of getting it striped, that will be first phase complete at this point. We’re real pleased with that; we’re looking forward to getting that done,” he said.
Phase 2 is the Walk of Honor. The 240-foot-long walk will be about 11 feet wide, Eaton said, with curbs built at an angle and the walk covered with 12-by-12-inch granite tiles people may buy and have engraved in honor or memory of veterans.
“It’s going to be a spectacular thing,” Eaton said in an earlier interview. A former mayor of the city, Eaton is a Vietnam veteran and served in the National Guard.
Eaton said “roughly 430 to 480” tiles will be needed for the Walk of Honor.
As of last week, 150 tiles had been sold, said Ken Harper, veterans service officer at the Pope County Veterans Service Office. The tiles are $150 each and can be ordered by calling (479) 968-6049 or going by the office at 107 W. B St. in Russellville.
“I think it’s going to be one of those things that after they get the parking lot and probably get the first batch of tiles out, folks are going to come out and see what they’re going to look like,” Harper said. He expects tile sales to pick up after that.
Eaton agreed.
“The first tiles are being engraved right now that can be placed on the Walk of Honor. We will build the Walk of Honor in sections as we have completed tiles, and they will stretch out to where the pavilion will be built on park grounds. “I think we will see an influx of sales of tiles once we have that done,” Eaton said. “It’s kind of come in batches. At first, we sold quite a few, and then it tapered off.”
Eaton emphasized that the tiles can be purchased for any veteran.
“It’s not that a person should live or have lived in this area,” he said. “Any individual who has a family member who is a veteran or a family member who is currently serving — anybody who has honorably served or is honorably serving can have a tile placed on this Walk of Honor. They might not have ever been in the River Valley, but their family, or a family member who lives here, can honor them in that way.”
Phase 3 of the project will include the construction of a pavilion, Eaton said, which will have compartments dedicated to major wars and conflicts in U.S. history, beginning with World War I.
“Our pavilion is going to be quite large, with a stage that will have scaffolding built in where lighting, sound systems and things of that nature can be used, because this will be a city park,” Eaton said. “It will be available to anyone who wants to use that city park.”
“This is going to be a place where veterans can go and contemplate and spend a peaceful time in a very pretty setting. Obviously, it’s going to be a city park available to everyone as well. It’s not an exclusive thing; it’s a very inclusive thing.”
He said another purpose of the park and memorial is to educate the public.
“War is glorified, but it’s not really that way; it’s a horrific time as well. There’s good and bad associated with it,” he said. “What we’re trying to provide is the good things related to the relationships people have developed over the years with comrades and family.”
The estimated project cost is $500,000, which is being paid for with grants and donations, Eaton said. The Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission gave the coalition a $14,000 mini-grant to kick off the project, he said.
“Again, we are looking for grants and possible donors. Somebody can donate money to the River Valley Veterans Coalition, … anyone with an interest and desire to honor veterans overall.”
Donations may be made to the Pope County Veterans Service Office, 107 W. B St., Russellville, AR 72801.
Eaton said questions about the memorial can be directed to Harper at popecountyvso@centurytel.net.
“I think we’re doing well with it, and we’re pleased with the progress we have made at this point,” Eaton said. “This is really the first step — having that parking lot finished — because people can come out there and see this is really going to come to fruition.
“We’re hoping within the next year and a half — say, end of 2017, to have it complete. We feel that is realistic.”
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.