Veterans Community Park Approaches Completion

Nineteen years ago, Marco Island voters approved the purchase of what was known as the Glonn Property for $10 million. The 2003 acquisition was part of a voter referendum that included language exempting the project from the “spending cap,” and allowing its approval under Marco Island’s City Charter. 

Later, in 2005, the Marco Island City Council voted to name the property “Veterans Community Park,” giving the park its own identity in name, but without a focused vision for what it would actually be. 

In 2008, the community recognized the value of the Veterans Community Park purchase when the volunteer committee managing Christmas Island Style approached the city with the idea of moving the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony to the park. Since then, other events such as concerts, the Rotary Seafood Festival and Farmers Market found a home at Veterans Community Park.

Also in 2008, the Marco Island City Council voted to create the first Master Plan for Veterans Community Park, although the property had been purchased five years earlier, in 2003.  A citizens’ committee was appointed to work with Sarasota-based architects, Kimley-Horn and their representative James Pankonin to develop the vision for the park. 

In 2009, city council adopted the plan as a guideline for the layout of the park’s eventual build-out.  Most of the plans were put on hold due to the downturn in the economy, which had begun in 2008.

Over the next several years, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee continued to look at options for the park.  In the meantime, the local VFW spearheaded a fundraising drive that resulted in the original Veterans Memorial being built. The memorial was dedicated on 11-11-11 as part of the Veterans Day observance.  A second fundraising effort was done to provide the Freedom Fountain, which was eventually added to the park’s Veterans Memorial.

In 2017, a new city council chose to update the original Veterans Community Park Master Plan, believing that major changes might be necessary. In the end, the basic layout remained the same, confirming the original vision of the 2009 Master Plan, and following 18-months of study of a large cross-section of citizens. 

In 2019, council again heard from Kimley-Horn representative James Pankonin regarding the updated vision for the park.

After considerable discussion, council approved moving forward on the project and accepted City Manager Michael McNees’ proposal to proceed via a Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) style contract.  

Kimley-Horn was awarded a contract for $594,959 to create working design plans for the CMAR chosen by the city for the construction process. The CMAR and the design firm (Kimley-Horn) would work together to propose a “not-to exceed” quotation to present to the city for construction.  In the event the cost of the contracted work exceeded the CMAR’s quote, the firm would have to absorb those costs. 

Over the next 12 months the process proceeded, with Manhattan Construction being selected as the Construction Manager at Risk. The cost of Manhattan Construction’s contract to serve as the CMAR was $11,183,647. An additional $713,700 was paid for work done on the second Master Plan, plus Kimley-Horn’s work to create the build documents. The 2008 Master Plan documents cost the city an additional $100,000 at the time they were created. This will amount to a cost just shy of $12 million for the park. Final numbers will be calculated upon completion of the project.

On August 18, 2021, there were smiles all around when the ceremonial shovels of earth were turned over, signifying the start of the long-anticipated one-year construction project. The project will provide improved parking, drainage, lighting, new restroom facilities, shade trees, upgraded electrical services and the much-debated band shell. 

Over the next 30 days, work in Veterans Community Park will continue, as the contractor and city staff finalize the remaining tasks. The community will be able to enjoy the 2022 Veterans Day ceremonies, which are planned to be held in the newly renovated park.

“This is such a great addition to our community. We owe our citizens such a great vote of thanks for having the vision in 2003 to purchase this wonderful piece of property and to invest in finalizing that vision in its development,” said Marco Island City Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz, as he toured the facility last week.