The preliminary designs for Staff Sergeant Tyler Pickett Park are shown above. The park, which is being spearheaded by local donors, will transform the empty lot near Veterans Island into a large community gathering area.
Plans for Staff Sergeant Tyler Pickett Park, which has sat empty for several years, is pushing forward.
According to a donor close with the project, who wishes to remain anonymous, the park now has a preliminary design, and is receiving funding and assistance from several parties.
The park is being designed by Norris Designs, a Denver-based planning and landscaping design company. According to the donor, Norris Designs has footed the cost for the park designs.
"They came up here last September and spent two days here," he said "They shot pictures, took measurements ... and said 'we are in this deal, we don't need to be paid, we want to honor not only Staff Sergeant Pickett, but we want to honor every man and woman who have given up their life from small-town USA'."
The plan includes a monument to the 10th-Mountain Devision, of which Staff Sgt. Pickett was assigned to, a memorial walkway to honor Staff Sgt. Pickett and a tribute to the American Legion.
The donor said there is additional potential for other monuments honoring American soldiers.
"Everything that we have asked for has been underwritten," the donor said. "We have had an overwhelming amount of support."
Additionally, trees, shrubbery and other vegetation in the potential park will be contiguous to the Platte Valley.
Saratoga Mayor John Zeiger said he is incredibly grateful for the help of donors. He said the plan was originally for the town to build a park, but the funding has never been entirely available to build a park of this magnitude.
"Without (donors), we could not build this park," Zeiger said.
There is not a set date of when the park will be completed, and the donor said they are currently in their "quiet stage" with fundraising for the project. If completed, the town would take over maintenance for the park.
The donor said one of the more important aspects of this park is bringing the community together.
"I think part of this thing is not only resources, but we want to pool this town together too," he said. "Just get this (project) where it is a personal thing."
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