Attica Veterans Memorial development to get $83,380 grant

Attica Veterans Memorial Park development conditionally receives $83,380 through grant

[Tiffin, OH Nov. 19, 2019] — Seneca Regional Planning Commission announced today that an $83,380 grant for the Village of Attica’s Veterans Memorial Park development has been conditionally approved.
SRPC Executive Director Charlene Watkins said the funding is a 75-percent matching grant, which will mostly cover the $123,944 project. The funds are provided through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks Grant.
The development is located at the site of the former Eagles building on SR 4 in downtown Attica. The Eagles building, which had become a hazard to the community, was demolished last year as part of a public-private collaboration through the county land bank. Sutton Bank, Seneca County General Health District, the county prosecutor’s office and many others made the project happen.
Seneca County Commissioner Shayne Thomas said the demolition of the building and transformation of the area in about two years is an amazing achievement by all involved.
“The Veterans Memorial Park in Attica is a great example of what can be accomplished when we all work together,” he said.
The Village of Attica is teaming up with the Attica American Legion Post No. 260 on the project. Improvements planned include a completely accessible park with memorials, flags that will honor the country and all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, a covered pavilion for public use, benches for reflection and remembrance bricks to honor local veterans.
The picnic tables will be designed to accommodate wheelchair-bound residents.
Jim Alt, adjutant of the Attica American Legion, said he was excited to hear about the grant.
“We are excited to use this funding for the park and the memorial to honor our local veterans and fallen ones,” he said. “It gives the community a place they can come, sit, relax and reflect on it. It’s a place for people in the village to come and spend time.”
This project represents the first veterans memorial in the village of Attica.
“I think this project is a great honor,” Alt said. “It gives the public the chance to go up and remember our ancestors that served before use and the friends we knew that served. Families of veterans can spend time there.
Alt said he hopes the park is used as a place for reflection and appreciation.
“By creating this park, the local veterans will never be forgotten for their services and for some of them, their sacrifice to our country,” he said.
Alt thanked SRPC for bringing the opportunity to them and helping with the application.
A lot of the labor and time to install the park are to be donated by volunteers from across the county and from Attica. For those interested in volunteering to assist in the creation of the park, contact the Attica American Legion Post No. 260. Interested parties may purchase pavers or sponsor a bench. Public donations are accepted at Sutton Bank in downtown Attica.
For more information, follow the Attica Area Veterans Memorial Fund on Facebook.