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Construction to Begin Soon on Clearwater Veterans Memorial

Crest Lake Park | Veterans Memorial | Clearwater

The memorial will be in Crest Lake Park.

CLEARWATER – A veterans memorial in Clearwater’s Crest Lake Park is beginning to show signs of becoming a reality with the installation of temporary fencing around the area the memorial will sit.

The fence is a first step in securing the site for future construction of the memorial. The memorial will be built on the southeast corner of the park at Gulf to Bay Boulevard and S Lake Avenue.

The memorial project is a partnership between the city of Clearwater and the Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance. The nonprofit organization raised more than $150,000 through donations, and the city of Clearwater matched that, raising the $300,000 needed to build the first phase of the memorial. Construction is set to begin Feb. 23 and is expected to be completed by May 23, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Memorial Day.

Phase one will include a circular brick plaza with a gold star design in the middle, along with a paved walkway. There will also be an American flag displayed alongside Florida and POW flags, and flags from each branch of the United States military. The plaza will be surrounded by walls where people can have the name of a veteran engraved for a small contribution.

The second phase of construction will include the installation of bronze sculptures representing various branches of the U.S. armed forces throughout periods of conflict from World War II to the present. That project will cost an estimated $1 million. The Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance is currently raising $500,000, and the city of Clearwater will match that to pay for phase two. A project timeline for phase two has yet to be determined.

For information about Clearwater, go to myclearwater.com.

Photograph of Crest Lake Park courtesy of the city of Clearwater.

Clearwater | Crest Lake Park | Veterans Memorial | Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance | TB Reporter

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