Tinley Park Takes Another Step in 'Hometown Hero Walk'
Village officials recently awarded two contracts for the local veterans plaza.
Village officials have taken yet another step in their plans to build a Tinley Park veterans plaza.
The site — it should be completed by Veterans Day 2012, officials have said — will honor military heroes from all five branches of the U.S. armed forces. A village board committee approved earlier this month a $23,900 design cost for the project, according to village documents.
The plaza is to be built near the 80th Avenue Metra train station, which is currently being remodeled.
"The plaza will have a 300-foot-long walkway from the train station through the commuter lot, consisting of paver bricks in one segment and a 'hometown hero walk' with oak tree landscaping and stone memorial headstones," reported the Sun-Times Media on Nov. 25. "The walkway was included in the train station renovation project, which saved the village about $60,000 in construction costs ..."
The hero walk will honor local veterans who have served in U.S. wars between 1915 and 2015, the Sun-Times Media reported.
Officials recently approved the hiring of Site Design Group to guide the process. They'll get $13,500 to prepare bid specifications for the hero walk, while another company, Project Management Advisors, will get $10,400 to hire a construction company for that work, according to the Sun-Times story.
Some of the project will be paid for through a $100,000 state grant, while another portion will be funded through the sale of engraved bricks that will pave the walkway. Residents can buy the commemorative stones to honor their loved ones, officials have said.
They hope to sell 1,300 of the 4 inch by 4 inch engraved bricks at $100 each and 125 of the 8 inch by 8 inch bricks at $200 a piece, reported the Sun-Times Media last week. That money will make lights, flagpoles and some decorative landscaping possible, board documents said.
READ: Village Invites Residents to Honor Veterans with Engraved Plaza Bricks
Mia
3:04 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
They are ruining Tinley. Leave it be. It's getting too commercialized.
Deb Melchert
3:34 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
Mia, sorry but I have to disagree, and ask, how is a walkway honoring our veterans "commercial"? I don't think you'll see banners and sponsor signs, just brick pavers like we purchased at the VFW to honor my father and father-in-law, both WWII veterans. FYI, the village has 8 young men, 6 in the Viet Nam war and 2 in the Iraq war that were killed in action. I wish I could find some info on whether or not we lost anyone in the Korean war or earlier conflicts. To dedicate any area to these men who paid the ultimate price, and for those who served is just another way to show how much we support our veterans. That is in no way commercializing anything. When they walk is completed, I'll be thinking about:
USMC PFC Charles Hollwedel, age 19 KIA 1967
USMC PFC Robert McAllister,posthumous Silver Star recipient, age 20, KIA Aug '68
USA PFC Gerald Miller, age 22, KIA October 1967
USA S4 Roger McRight, age 21, KIA December 1969
USMC LCPL Charles Riley, age 21, KIA October 1966
USA SSGT Michael Sutter, age 28 KIA December 2003
USMC CPL Kevin Clarke, age 21, KIA February 2005
USMC PFC Edward Novak, Bronze Star, age 20, KIA August 1970
carol trejo
1:43 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
I have just returned from the Veterens Day celebration and dedication of the Veterens Walkway. I praise Tinley Park for providing a place in my communty to honor my husband, Andy Trejo. He served 6 years in the United States Navy and is proud of his service. Not commercial, but commendable.