Freedom Park work could begin later this year

Mar. 11—MONTICELLO — The city of Monticello is moving toward with two projects focused on honoring local veterans.

Freedom Park and upgrades to Robert C. Burke Memorial Park are on tonight's city council agenda as discussion items.

City administrator Terry Summers said that the city has budgeted a little over $6 million for both projects.

"The next steps will be coordinating with the design engineers to get the construction documents put together and finalized to go out for bid," he said.

Summers said he is hopeful that construction of Freedom Park could begin later this year.

The park will be located at the southwest corner of North Market Street and Iron Horse Place. The council previously approved using tax increment funds to develop a master plan for the facility, and city officials are hoping to procure the original Iwo Jima flag-raising monument as its centerpiece.

The bronze rendering of the flag-raising was sculpted by Felix de Weldon and displayed in Washington, D.C., for about three years before it was replaced by a larger version that is still on display in the capital.

Monticello native and World War II marine veteran Les Gadbury was assigned to help de Weldon finish the statue by November of 1945 after he returned to the states. One of Gadbury's main duties was building the monument's concrete base.

The statue was later bought by collector Rodney Hilton Brown.

"We're still working on if we can obtain that United States Marine Corps War Memorial, the Iwo Jima sculpture," Summers said.

He added that the cost of this acquisition would hopefully be included in the approximately $6 million budgeted for Freedom and Burke parks.

Additionally, he said that Freedom Park will provide "one central location" for the signs honoring current active duty members.

It is also expected to include a "secluded reflection and remembrance area", a walking path with "interpretive military event signage" and a cul-de-sac with American flags, Summers said.

In addition to plans for the new park, the council previously approved a master plan for improvements to the existing Robert C. Burke Memorial Park.

"Some of the proposed plans include adding parking around the perimeter of the park, a bus drop-off area, a new playground, new basketball court, new pickleball court, new tennis court and outside gathering space for the residents, perhaps an amphitheater," Summers said. "... And of course the centerpiece, some sort of a memorialization, if you will, of Private First Class Robert C. Burke."

According to the city's website, Burke was a U.S. Marine who was killed in action on May 17, 1968, and posthumously received the Medal of Honor. At age 18, he was the youngest recipient of this honor during the Vietnam War.

Another memorial park that also has been in the works for a couple of years is Oberheim Park. The proposed sports and recreation complex is intended to honor Monticello resident and Champaign police Officer Chris Oberheim, who was killed in the line of duty in May 2021.

"The Monticello Recreation Foundation is continuing to try to do some sort of a fundraising campaign" for Oberheim Park, Summers said. "There hasn't been much traction on that, but we are hoping that there will get some traction on that soon."