Veterans Memorial Park at San Marco Plaza gets new leadership

LAKEWOOD RANCH — More than a year after a five-member team broke ground on a Veterans Memorial Park at San Marco Plaza, a new team of organizers has stepped up to carry the project forward.

Military veterans David Neff, Lee Waters, Stephen Valley, Bill Sikes and Florida State Rep. Greg Steube of District 67 are working to establish San Marco Memorial Park at San Marco Plaza as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and bring the project to fruition.

Neff, the new organization’s president and the only board member to have served on the park’s original planning committee, said previous organizers were not making progress on the park, prompting a change in leadership.

“We decided to move forward strictly with military veterans,” Neff said. “The construction of the park (basically) will remain as submitted to the (San Marco) Condominium Association and (Schroeder-Manatee Ranch).”

As one feature of the park, earlier this month a grassy area behind Country Pancake House and Restaurant was replaced with brick-colored pavers, creating an elegant space that easily can be used for veteran-related events, community activities or other festivities.

The group is working to gain 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service for San Marco Memorial Park at San Marco Plaza by the end of November, or at least by the year’s end, so it can begin efforts to fund the rest of the $1 million project, which includes a flag display, concrete standards decorated with plaques dedicated to military veterans and a liquid fireworks display. Organizers’ only change to the project has been the configuration of the standards, Neff said.

“I’ve always believed in order to fully earn the right to live in freedom, you have to pay the price,” Waters, a retired U.S. Air Force major, said regarding the reason the project is important. “In my opinion, one of the biggest prices is to be in service to your country, and especially your military. I feel this park represents a lasting way to recognize those people who have given, part, or in some cases, all of their lives, in service to their country and the freedoms we (enjoy).”

Organizers hope to have all three phases of the park completed within 18 months of formally submitting their nonprofit application, Neff said.

For questions about the park, contact Neff at 448-1500.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected]