Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

Veterans Memorial Park of Kentucky will be located on over 33,000 sq. feet in an educational complex that includes a high school, middle school, and two elementary schools. The setting of the Park is in the Theodore Klein Historical Tree Museum. Trees will be identified for Park visitors. Also, additional flowering trees will be planted.

The location of the Park is in Crestwood, KY off, Veterans Memorial Parkway (a section KY 329) and is approximately 1 ½ miles south from I-71, Exit 14 and will be handicap accessible.

The main entrance of the Park will be a brick pad consisting of engraved bricks of only veterans. Servicemembers killed in action’s bricks will be distinctive with a different color than other bricks. A monument in the shape of Kentucky will recognize Park Sponsors and supporters will also be at the entrance along with an information kiosk.

  • The 900 foot sidewalk, called “300 Years of Military History” will:
    Be segmented and each segment will be 72” X 36” which will permit two wheel chairs to pass each other
  • Have brick inserts that will have sequential years engraved in each insert, beginning with 1775
  • Include colored segments that indicate at least one American died in a military action that year

During ceremonies, historical American flags will be placed along the sidewalk during ceremonies to illustrate which flag was flown in battles of that era. In addition, sponsored county markers recognizing their veterans who served will be installed along the sidewalk. Student docents are planned to stand by the flag and to provide historical information it.

Three types of educational markers about military actions will be installed along the sidewalk:

  • Granite pedestal markers will include information about specific military actions with individual markers for those actions where at least 100 were killed; other markers may include multiple military actions
  • Markers on metal poles will provide quotes concerning the military and veterans
  • Informational markers will be installed in the ground with specific information about military history, such as the Windtalkers, Tuskegee Airmen, women in the military, military dogs
  • Kentucky County markers will also be installed in the ground acknowledging those who served from their county

Military history will be depicted on large black granite commemorative panoramic monuments with etched pictures that will be the focus of the Park, beginning with the Revolutionary War.

Granite benches will initially be installed and specially designed metal benches will be installed in the future. There will be three 30-foot flag poles for the American, Kentucky, and POW flags.

There will be a five-sided gazebo with each side having a granite pad by it. The pads will have military branch emblems and a place for the branch’s flags to be placed next to them during ceremonies. On the grounds, there will be a speaker’s stand.

Also planned is an area designated as the “LZ”, representing the Vietnam War Landing Zone, where organizations (e.g. VFW, Marine units) will be able to sponsor a marker on a pedestal with information about their organization.

In the future, bronze dioramas will be added to reflect the military’s uniforms and personal equipment from wars in history.

The Park already includes:

  • An outdoor classroom that was done as an Eagle Scout project
  • A Liberty Elm Tree from the Liberty Tree Society that was donated by the Sons of the American Revolution
  • The trees have been identified by an American Heritage Girls’ troop.

It is worth mentioning that a decision was made for the pedestal markers, large benches to be located by the sidewalk, and branch medallion holders by the gazebo will be made utilizing American granite. This has greatly increased the project’s cost by several hundred thousand dollars. But, the Board decided that using American granite on these Park elements is important regardless of the cost, even if completed construction of the Park is delayed.