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Tuesday, May 18, 2004
South Daytona plans memorial dedication
By JOHN WISNIEWSKI | News-Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH DAYTONA — The Fourth of July weekend in the city will be highlighted by long-anticipated formal dedication of a tribute to those who have served the nation in time of war.
The dedication will focus on a path around a small monument in Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park paved with bricks inscribed with the names of persons who served their country with honor.
In a way, the path at the park along the Halifax River at the north end of Palmetto Avenue also will serve to commemorate the efforts of the city residents who made it possible through contributions of $50 per pathway brick.
The date and the plans for the dedication will be announced in the upcoming June/July edition of the city's newsletter, according to Parks and Recreation Director Greg Bartholomew.
To date, the path contains 157 bricks, "and we still have room for many more," Bartholomew said.
Order forms can be obtained at the Parks and Recreation Department office at the Piggotte Community Center, 504 Big Tree Road, or by calling (386) 322-3070, he said.
The effort that's resulted in establishment of the path began with a recommendation to rename Riverfront Park to Riverfront Veterans Park made by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to the City Council in 2000.
The recommendation, as it happened, was unanimously approved by the council on a date that itself would become momentous exactly one year later: Sept. 11.
In the spring of 2002, lacking budget funds for an appropriate addition to the park, the city sought the help of its citizens in its path project.
The effort "was a total success . . and individuals who helped to get the funds and saw it completed thought it was a nice touch to the park and much appreciated," Bartholomew said.
Getting there, however, wasn't easy, as delivery of the bricks was delayed until last December and other factors prevented their installation until February, he said.
Then, about a month ago, the pump that serves the park's irrigation system failed. With installation of a new pump, damaged landscaping is now recovering, Bartholomew said.
The park is maintained daily, weekends included, by city parks maintenance personnel — an effort that has different requirements depending on the time of year, he said.
That's because the monument and path are beneath a large oak tree that constantly drops leaves during the late winter and early spring months, Bartholomew said.