City votes to move Las Vegas Veterans Memorial to downtown’s Heritage Park

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 | 3:14 p.m.

The Las Vegas City Council today unanimously approved moving the location for a planned memorial for American veterans from Huntridge Circle Park to Heritage Park along North Las Vegas Boulevard in the city's downtown area.

The council decided to dedicate about 1.5 acres of Heritage Park for the development of the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial, whose supporters envision it featuring about 17 larger-than-life bronze and stainless steel sculptures created by Douwe Blumberg.

Blumberg's concept was picked last year among four finalists from around the country who competed for the project.

The move from Huntridge Park, which did draw some opposition from some local veterans about public safety in Heritage Park, was done mostly to allow for better public access and parking, according to Mick Catron, president of the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial Foundation.

"It absolutely complements that Cultural Corridor," Catron said, referring to the corridor of Las Vegas Boulevard that includes Cashman Center, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum/Las Vegas Library and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the Neon Museum, the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort and State Historic Park and the Reed Whipple Cultural Center.

The city also recently finished the "Vegas Arabesque" Cultural Corridor Bridge that provides a neon pedestrian walkway over Las Vegas Boulevard as part of the city's Cultural Corridor Trail Project.

"I view this memorial not only as a veterans' memorial, to pay respects in that nature, but as also a historical and educational piece, as well," Catron told the city council.

Catron said the Heritage Park site has some existing infrastructure, such as buildings with restrooms and parking, that wouldn't have to be added.

"That Huntridge Circle Park really presents some hurdles for us at this time," Catron said. He said that since the park was initially designated for the project, they found problems with both vehicular and pedestrian access.

"We don't feel this location really supports what we're trying to do," he said of Huntridge Circle Park. He said that after discussing it with others, including city staff members, they thought Heritage Park would be the best alternative.

Catron said there might be some design modifications with the change in locations, but the overall concept and vision behind the memorial would not change.

"Thank you for your willingness to do this," said Councilman Steve Ross. "Our city desperately needs a Veterans Memorial."

Councilman Ricki Barlow agreed with Ross the area needs such a memorial and "locating the most plausible and the most feasible location is a very good problem."

Barlow said he had met with representatives of the Neon Boneyard and the Natural History Museum and the Clark County Library, who supported the move.

Councilman Steve Wolfson asked for a time frame for the project.

"Everybody wants to see it get done," Wolfson said.

Catron estimated that it could be open in about 2 1/2 years once the artist has been given the contract and initial funding. The artist just finished a Special Forces sculpture piece he is installing this weekend in Lexington, Ky., Catron said.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman asked how much it would cost the city. Catron said the foundation will raise the funds for the entire project, including the sculptures, lighting and surrounding sidewalks.

City Manager Betsy Fretwell said the next step will be for the artist to adjust his designs for the project.

After the plan for the new site is made, the council will vote on whether to go ahead with the new design, Fretwell said.

She said the idea would be to leave the remainder of Heritage Park that is not dedicated to the Veterans Memorial as a children's park.

During the meeting, one member of the public said there was a lot of crime in the Heritage Park area. After the meeting, Catron said pubic safety issues will be addressed as the project moves forward.

"We're not going to move forward with any aspect of it unless we're confident we're doing it the right way," he said. "We're pretty close to moving forward with the fundraising for the project."

A mock-up of the project can be viewed at Las Vegas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1753, 705 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

The design will feature soldiers from the American Revolution to the present time. The design also allow for more sculptures to be added to the memorial in the future.

"Three of the statutes are representative of a family that supports the troops and the veterans," he said. "Throughout history, the families are a key component of all of this."

Each of the 17 sculptures takes the artist about six weeks to complete.

"There's one artist and he's making these things by hand," Catron said.