Elkhart Works for Veterans
Renovation of Veteran Park underway, donations welcome

[November 08, 2017] 

ELKHART

The Village of Elkhart is taking steps renovate their Veterans’ Park to become a place for veterans and the community to go to reflect, to honor veterans, to celebrate our country’s military, and to appreciate local military history.

“Our vision is to improve the existing park to make it safe and restore it to honor veterans, have a public space for congregation, improve historic downtown Elkhart, and provide a park location worthy of cultural and historical events,” says Lois Olson, President of Elkhart’s Need and Goals group. Needs and Goals of Elkhart (NAG) was formed in 1984 and has been the “caretaker” of the current Veterans’ Park for many years. Any veteran (young, senior, disabled, retired, active or other) in the Village, Logan County, or visiting will be able to use the park to meditate and remember comrades. Olson continues, “We also foresee Veterans’ events, community festivals, outdoor movies, potlucks, and concerts in the renovated park.”

Elkhart’s Veterans’ Park was created by Susan K. Green in 1977 to honor veterans on behalf of her sister, Elizabeth Drake. Both were grandchildren of the wife of Richard Oglesby, who was a three term Governor of Illinois, veteran of the Mexican American War, and a Civil War general. The site of the park was a dilapidated commercial building on Governor Oglesby Street that was razed to provide the downtown location for the park.

Located in historic downtown Elkhart, the current Veterans' Park is home to a WWI Doughboy statue that was presented to the Village by the returning veterans of World War I in honor of the men who did not return from that war. Since then, plaques have been added to the statue with the names of Village veterans from WWII, the Korean War and all veterans killed in action from Elkhart during past wars.

Now, in 2017, the park needs updating. Janice Funk, NAG’s Project Manager for the park renovation, says, “There is currently no electricity, no water and few sitting places in the park. The plantings are only a few potted annual flowers and weeds had overtaken the broken brick surface. The WWI Doughboy statue is stained and soiled and requires cleaning.”

“We’ve had many wonderful volunteers helping us,” Funk states, “and there is lot of work left to do – but we are making progress.” The project includes ensuring that the park is handicap accessible with a safe, stable surface; updating the US flag depository; landscaping; a reflective sitting wall and benches around the perimeter; and installing electricity and water in the park.

The Veterans’ Park Project is designed to be used by veterans in the Village of Elkhart or living in or visiting Logan County, their families and children, and extended families and friends. Individuals will be able to deposit tattered flags in a proper disposal box located in the park. Decorated with bunting on military days and holidays, and adorned with flowers during the spring and summer, the renovated park will have an enduring impact on the lives of current military, veterans, their families and local communities. In addition, the park will provide a place for community events and a pleasant stop for tourists who travel through Elkhart on Rt. 66.

“In-kind donations, volunteer help, landscaping materials and monetary donations are needed and appreciated,” says Peggy Lee, Village of Elkhart Trustee. “Anyone wanting to see the park design, or wanting to pick up a brochure with more information, can go to the UCB Bank on Governor Oglesby Street in Elkhart.” Donations to the “Veterans’ Park Fund” are tax deductible and can be sent to PO Box 20, Elkhart, IL 62634.

[Peggy Lee]