The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in Florida has approved funding for the initial design of a Memorial Park for veterans. The park will be on a 24-acre County-owned property at 5431 Buckeye Road in Palmetto. It will have memorials for all American-involved armed conflicts, from the American Revolution to the Iraq War.
The park will also recognize each branch of the armed services, local heroes, women veterans, and the Manatee County Veteran of the Year. The proposed park location is next to a future school site on the south side of Buckeye Road, with the Artisan Lakes subdivision on the park’s south side.
Manatee County At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden initiated the motion for the park’s further planning and design. He expressed his support for the project, stating that the park aims to provide the best for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The park’s initial designs are inspired by the Veteran Memorial Park and Museum off US 301 and the Tampa Bypass Canal in Hillsborough County. The design includes 14 war memorials, walking trails, picnic pavilions, and a Veterans’ resource center.