Unmatched coverage: We are committed to covering community issues in the city of Huber Heights.
More coverage: For complete local government coverage in the region, visit MyDaytonDailyNews.com.
A new nonprofit group created to honor veterans wants to transform green space in Huber Heights into a Veterans Memorial Park.
Huber Heights Veteran’s Project, Inc. was recently formed with a vision to raise $75,000 to $100,000 and have the memorial complete in two years, according to the group’s director, Matthew Truman.
There are nine members on the committee, and the first event the group plans to be a part of is the Huber Heights Family Fall Fest Oct. 3-4 at the Huber Centre.
Truman — who served with the Ohio National Guard in Afghanistan — said Huber Heights Veteran’s Project will have an informational booth at the event.
The group wants to “give back to the veterans who’ve served,” Truman said. “Our park would not only be a veterans park, (but) we also want to do a hero’s walkway for people to come out and just enjoy it. An educational piece of it, where the schools could come on field trips and learn about the history of the U.S. veteran.”
Belle Plain Park, located at 7715 Belle Plain Drive, is a park the group has looked at, Truman said. Other green spaces in the city will be considered, and the group also would consider accepting a land donation, he said.
Huber Heights Veteran’s Project plans to host fundraisers, seek donations and possibly apply for grants in its effort to raise money.
“We don’t have a memorial park where we can celebrate different things in the city, like other cities have,” Truman said. “Our veterans could use something like that. … We have nine members on the committee that are willing to put in their time, effort and treasures as well.”
Ann Haney, whose father served in World War II, lives next to Belle Plain Park and plants flowers at the park.
“It would be great,” Haney said. “People do use this park a lot. They walk in it and bring their children.”
For more information about Huber Heights Veteran’s Project, email hubervetproject@gmail.com.
About the Author