Funding in place for mural at planned New Washington Veterans Memorial Park

The group planning a new veterans memorial park in New Washington has met its first goal: Enough money has been raised to allow a mural painter to begin work next month.

"The donations have been unbelievable," said Dave Riedel, a New Washington native and Marine Corps veteran who is leading the effort to develop the park. "We surpassed the first phase goal of $50,000 that would get us to pay for the mural and pay for the rendering from the architect."

The new park, inspired by a similar memorial on Ohio 4 in Attica, will be built in an empty lot on the village square, at Main and Kibler streets.

Weather-permitting, mural artist Dean Davis of Whitehouse, in Lucas County, will begin work on Sept. 12, Riedel said. Before then, the eastern wall of the building housing the New Washington Branch Library will be prepped and primed by the project's general contractor, New Washington-based Studer-Obringer. Bruce Heinlen of Felty-Heinlen Architects and Planners, Inc., will be the architect for the project.

Survey of park property is scheduled

The Crawford Partnership donated the money for the architectural rendering, which he received last week, Riedel said. That rendering was included in a presentation he made at a New Washington Village Council meeting Monday.

"We're moving forward with the rendering now to getting a survey done of the lot, and then the architect is moving forward with the construction design so that he can give that to the general contractor," he said. Planners also have met with representatives of Longstreth Memorials of Galion about possible monument designs.

During the meeting Monday, village council members selected the mural's design, choosing a third option that was developed based on feedback about the initial two proposals, Riedel explained.

"On the left side of the mural, it shows a soldier helping another soldier up, giving a hand," he said. "In the center, it's got kind of a throwback, circle-oval shape that has representations of air, land and sea — a ship, a tank and an airplane — with a soldier, a sailor and an aviator in the middle. And then on the right side, it shows the battlefield cross with a soldier kneeling in front, basically paying respects to his lost comrade."

More than $70,000 raised so far

Like all three options, it features a flag in the background, a silhouette of the village across the bottom, the motto "All gave some; some gave all;" and the names of participating communities — Chatfield, Bloomville, New Washington, North Auburn and Tiro.

"Very excited about it; it really appeals to the veterans and it was pretty much the 100% choice after it came out," he said.

So far, more than $70,000 has been raised — plus some non-cash donations, Riedel said. Someone donated use of a lift while the mural is being painted, saving planners $3,500 to $4,000. A power line feeding into the library building had to be moved to make way for the mural; that work was donated. The Bucyrus hotel where the mural artist will stay gave park planners a special deal on the room.

Planners might apply for more grants

Planners have applied for two grants for the project, and Riedel said he anticipates applying for more. Phase Two of the project — building the park — is expected to cost at least $100,000. They're working with the architect and general contractor to develop an exact figure and set a new fundraising goal.

Riedel said he will post regular updates on the New Washington Veterans Memorial Park Facebook page.

"The donations just keep coming in," Riedel said. "We had a very successful breakfast at the Legion on Sunday, raised $3,000. I'm blown away by the generosity of the community."

ggoble@gannett.com

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