HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.a. Freedom Walk of America ROSEMQ�I� EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting: August 28, 2017
AGENDA ITEM: Freedom Walk of America AGENDA SECTION:
Old Business
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGENDA NO.
Director 6 a.
ATTACHMENTS: none APPROVED BY: dls
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to be discussed at the meeting.
ISSUE
At our July 24�' Commission meeting we discussed a concept plan for the pxoposed Freedom Walk of
America.The Commission had several questions xegarding the concept plan. Listed below axe many of
the key questions asked by the Commission and the answers that have been provided by the Freedom
Walk of America Committee.
• Does the Freedom Walk of America have a mission statement?
Response- Freedom Walk of AmericaT"" helps educate Americans about being American which
the first Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution have guaranteed and our valiant
veterans are dedicated to protecting.
• Is the focus of the walk to honor Vet's or our freedoms as a Country?
Response-Our Founding Fathers Gave Us the Bill of Rights, Our Veterans Ensure They
Continue! Both, equally. We invite you to visit Freedom Walk of AmericaT"", with your touch,
with your sight and especially with your heart! Experience the Bill of Rights as you've never
experienced them before and discover the veteran's memorial dedicated to the Rosemount-
based 34th Red Bull Infantry Division!
• They felt a few of the of the statuary were not family friendly.
Response- Images of statuary are artist conceptions only; final design has not begun.
• Is there space for 11 stations. Originally the focus was 8.
Response-About 10-years ago, 3 Rosemount gentlemen, Bud Curley,Jack Warweg& Ed
McMenomy,Sr., came together to share their vision of honoring veterans by building a
meaningful memorial along a segment of the Koch Trail. Over the ensuing years,we have
received City approval to use a segment of the Trail to build the memorial &that vision has
grown& become more focused on a memorial that honors both the locally based Red Bulls&
10 areas celebrating our American Constitutional Rights,which our Veterans have fought so
hard to win for us&continue to preserve.The scope,once local, has been expanded to
become a national memorial every bit the equivalent of national memorials like the Viet Nam
Vets Memorial &World War II Memorials in Washington DC.We believe that when the 11
memorials are completed they will draw significant interest&anticipate visitors from all 50
states as well as other countries, students making field trips, receiving national media
attention &included on national memorial lists.
• Is there is a local focus?
Response-The first memorial along the trail is for the locally based 34th Infantry Division, Red
Bulls.
• Has this plan been shared with the Legion or VFW?Any feedback?
Response-We received warm receptions and donations from the American Legion, Post 65,
March 23, 2017; Rosemount Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Chapter November 17,2016
BACKGROUND
The Rosemount Veterans'Memorial Walk organization has provided sta.ff with their recently updated
plans for honoring veterans in Rosemount along a segment of the Koch Txail in Central Paxk. 'The plans
identify eleven stations that focus on the fitst ten amendments to the Constitution which make up the Bill
of Rights. Each station has a unique plan that focuses on an amendment and could include a statue,
benches,brick pavers and signage. �����������e � *�P *"��P+ �^�•'Y��"�',
SUMMARY
Staff would like for the Parks and Recreation Coinmission to Yeview the information provided in the
executive summary and discuss next steps with this project.