The Oswegoland Park Foundation and Veterans Serenity Park Committee, move closer to completion on the riverfront Park in downtown Oswego. The committee has been securing private funds over the past 12 months to build the Park and structural work began early last week.
The Park will house riverfront pods dedicated to the five branches of the service. Additionally, the eternal flame will be housed in a cascading water feature being constructed by Aquascape of St. Charles.
The Park will feature memorial benches, tribute bricks to honor present and past service personnel with some going back to the U.S. Civil War. There will be a reflective butterfly garden immediately behind the entry way. The walkway from the Vietnam Wall that visited Oswego in 2017, was preserved and will be featured throughout the Park.
The Veterans Serenity Park is designed to be a lasting tribute to the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country. It is a solitude sanctuary designed to let those from every walk of life seeking a quiet setting to enjoy the beauty of the Fox River and a peaceful refuge.
“This Park is a labor of love for the Oswegoland community and will be preserved into perpetuity honoring our veterans,” said chairman Dave Krahn. “I can’t say thank you enough to the people, businesses, and the Oswegoland Park District for stepping up to the plate to make this a reality.”
The Park’s major benefactor has been Phil Edwards, owner of Twin Oaks Landscaping. “Without Phil’s involvement and expertise, this Park would not have happened. He is the epitome of what Oswego is all about,” Krahn stated. “We are also fortunate to have representative Stephanie Kifowit and representative Keith Wheeler standing tall for Oswego.”
The Park has many helping hands and naming several of the top benefactors include Mike Schoppe of Schoppe Design, Rick Kuhn of RJ Kuhn, Phil Solecki of Trinity Electric, Ken Bertrand of Allied Bank, Neal Dodd of L.J. Dodd Construction, Semper Fi, Fox River Stone, and of course Chad Feldotto and Rich Zielke of the Oswegoland Park District. Invaluable resources consistently strive to make Oswego the community of choice.
Plans for the official dedication and grand opening will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. There are still memorial bricks available for purchase prior to the opening and information can be found at www.oswegoveteranspark.org, or contact Dave Krahn at Krahn.david@gmail.com.
— Veterans Serenity Park