Veterans Memorial Park {Part 6 - Playgrounds, the Memorial, and Cost}

There is nothing like the feeling of flying through the air. No matter your age, flying down a slide or swinging through the air is a thrill and a rush.

Union has 4 playgrounds for families to enjoy:

1. City Park on Park Street
2. Clark Vitt Memorial Park on Clark Vitt Drive
3. Hoffert Park on Hoffert Street, behind Shop-n-Save Pharmacy
4. the little park on College Meadows Drive

There are pavilions, restrooms, and family picnic shelters are the first 2 parks, the larger ones. The second 2 parks only have a family shelter besides the playground equipment.

If you look at the map, you will notice that if a family who lives in St. Andrews (the largest subdivision in not only Franklin County, but the surrounding counties), wants to go to the playground, the nearest park would be College Meadows Drive. The other 3 parks are completely across town.

The growth of Union on the east side has exploded in the past decade, and the new Veterans Memorial Park would fill the need for additional playgrounds for the 3,000 new residents (numbers based on the 2000 and 2010 censuses).

The new east park is tentatively planned to have 3 playgrounds, 3 swing sets, and a splash pad, in addition to sports fields, walking trails, conservation areas, and a fishing lake.

And...the park will contain a Disabled Veterans Memorial. A memorial that will honor the men and women who have served our country so that we have the freedoms we love.


Some major numbers have been estimated for building this amazing park, and those numbers are staggering...millions and millions of dollars. However, the park will not cost near what the estimation is, according to the Parks Department and the Missourian.


Why? Because the numbers are based on St. Louis costs, not based on using local contractors. The number also doesn't figure in the federal grants that are available to help us build the new Veterans Memorial Park.


But why not go for the grants first? Good question!


The Parks Department cannot apply for grants until there is a financial plan to build the park. The grant money will not be given unless the community is committed to building the park. And passing a tiny sales tax says that we are committed to continuing the growth of our community with the Veterans Memorial Park is exactly what the grant granters are looking for.


***
On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union, from 6am to 7pm. The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Missed the previous posts? Here they are:
{Part 5 - Football}
{Part 4 - Trails and Lakes}
{Part 3 - Soccer}
{Part 2 - Pavilions}
{Part 1 - Baseball}

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

Author: Tyann Marcink
Photo: Marcink Designs