Alexandria is planning for its new city campus, and Alexandria veterans asked them to consider moving its Tribute Park as part of those plans.
Air Force veterans Mike Ward and Bill Rachford addressed the city council at its March meeting and said moving the Tribute Park would allow people to use it. They said they would like to see new pavers and monuments as part of the process.
“The park was put in place with no funding; it was all done through donations,” Ward said. “Here’s an opportunity for the city to pick it up and move it, and we’d like to help in that process.”
The park is located at the corner of U.S. 27 and W. Main St. in Alexandria, adjacent to the current city building.
Ward said the pavers are coming up, and the park is in a bad location.
“Right now, everybody drives by it,” he said. When was the last time we saw somebody sitting there—because it’s difficult to park.”
Rachford said they want to recognize all those who have served and are actively serving. He said the city could also consider moving the World War II plaque that is currently behind the Campbell County Middle School and incorporating it into Tribute Park.
Highland Heights, Fort Thomas and Covington are cities Rachford said have monuments or tributes to veterans that they would like to mimic.
“So far, on our city building, we’re just doing the interior design,” Alexandria Mayor Andy Schabell said. “We haven’t started any exterior, so you’re in at a good time to come up with and talk with us about that.”
Rachford said the seven veterans located in Alexandria would help contribute to the project and potentially some people from the Veterans Hall of Fame.
“It’s time that it gets moved,” Ward said. “If we can put it in a place where people can get out of the car, whether they come to do city business or they come to the community center and they walk by it, they might have an opportunity to sit and actually look at it.”
