FY22 Veterans Memorial Grant
The existing Memorial Park overlook in Red Wing was replaced in 2021 with a new overlook. This project ($335,000) included a new parking area to the side of a new pedestrian-oriented overlook designed with amphitheater-style seating around a circular observation deck. Connected to that is another smaller circular deck with a 60' high flag pole with the U.S. flag. The finishing touches of this new overlook area is to design and construct a granite base for the flagpole, incorporating the armed service medallions. On top of the granite base will be a sculpture, yet to be designed.
Martin Howes, Veteran; Ashley Laganiere, Veteran; Lul Osman, OGM; Sarah Hernandez, OGM; Greg Peterson, Veteran; Jenna Schmidtke, Veteran; Kenneth Voigt, Veteran
$72,750 in Fiscal Year 2022 and $72,750 in Fiscal Year 2023 are for a competitive grants program to provide grants to local units of government for veterans memorials to preserve the culture and heritage of Minnesota. The local unit of government must provide a nonstate cash match equal to the amount of the grant received under this paragraph.?
Proposed measurable outcomes include:
1. Quantitative - once Memorial Park opens for the season in 2022 (it is locked to access during the winter months), a count will be made as to the number of visitors to the overlook for three consecutive Saturdays as a base-line count; a similar count will be made in June/July with an anticipated visitor increase of 100 car visits per Saturday, which would be carried forward as multiplied in following years.
2. Qualitative - prior to the Memorial Park overlook replacement project in 2021, there was no recognition of Veterans at the overlook or surrounding park areas; by adding the flag pole, a granite base with service medallions, and a corresponding sculpture, the overall value of those thousands of people stopping at the popular overlook will be enhanced for recognition of Veterans and Artists.