Hailey inaugurates memorial park
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
Land the city of Hailey had almost
forgotten is now the site for a new memorial park. Mayor Susan McBryant, city
council members and park advocates kicked off weekend festivities with the
announcement Friday.
As Blaine County residents headed off to
enjoy the long weekend, representatives of the American Legion stopped by to
offer their support for the park as they prepared decorations and for honor
guard services.
The newly designated 50 by 55 foot
"postage stamp" is situated directly behind the Summit Apartment complex at the
west end of Silver street.
The park is intended to honor military
veterans, particularly the men and women of Hailey who have fallen in the
service of their country.
"This is an opportunity for the city to be
pro-active," said city council president Rick Davis, who wants to see a plaque
that shows all the names of people from Hailey who have fought and died.
At one time the plan included saving a
dilapidated but historical accessory shed that was part of a transfer station
for one of the first hydroelectric plants in the state of Idaho.
City engineers decided the building could
not be salvaged, but there are concepts for developing the site that is so small
it is not accessible by car.
The design has only been discussed, said
McBryant. The "highest and best use" of the land is now up to the community to
decide.
"We want to make it a real treasure," she
said.
One idea is to have a flag flying night
and day to honor veterans who have died.
"There would be recessed lights at the
base," said Julia Springer, past president of the American Legion Unit 24.
"There have to be lights if the flag is going to fly at night."
A sculpture of The Angel of Hope, promoted
by Hailey resident Marilyn Simmons, is also being considered for the site. The
4-foot-tall sculpture with a 5-foot wing span represents children who have died
before their parents.
"We were all children once," said Simmons.
Whatever the final design, two Summit
residents were clearly pleased with the planned improvement and honor.
"The last trash and tree limbs went out
today," said World War II veteran Phillip Smith, brother of Marjorie Jensen
who’s husband managed the Triumph mine. He and Shimeno Renfrow, who’s ex-husband
retired as a Navy petty officer in 1970, said they already enjoy the new space.