Changes are being made to the Wadena Veterans Park as work continues on the memorial.
The design has changed due to a discovery of a high water table in the park. The flag pole has been moved to a different location on the south side of Sunnybrook Park adjacent to U.S. Highway 10.
David Ludovissie, veterans park committee chairman, and Lane Waldahl presented an updated plan for the project to the Wadena City Council last week.
Chris Youngbauer, with Youngbauer's Landscaping, helped the veterans park committee with a different design that would have more of the features closer to the road and away from the river.
The committee wanted to use the vacated Wadena Model Railroaders Club building that is adjacent to the new veterans park. They worked with City Administrator Brad Swenson on a use agreement for the building. The group plans to use the building for a veterans museum.
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Wadena County Veteran Service Officer Dave Anderson and Wadena County Historical Museum executive director Lina Belar will be gathering items to display in the museum.
The park will eventually have granite walls with the names of each deceased veteran from the area in addition to displays of military equipment and an observation deck over Whiskey Creek.
Sidewalks will be poured and pavers and benches will be sold to line the paths at the park and be placed underneath the 50-foot flagpole.
Anderson said the pavers and benches are a great way to give a gift of honor to a veteran. Donations and commemorative purchases enable the Veterans Memorial Park to give recognition to men and women in the armed forces.
The park will eventually include military hardware on display near Highway 10. The group has already secured a truck from the Army and has requests in for aircraft.
To donate, send checks to Veterans Memorial Park, 414 1st St. SW, Wadena MN, 56482. For more information and to order pavers or benches, call (218) 631-1672.
