September 16, 2021 |
The Saratoga Town Council is not giving up on the effort to develop Tyler Pickett Park into a memorial for the fallen hometown hero. Staff Sergeant Pickett, a 1999 graduate of Saratoga High School, was killed in action while serving with the 10th Mountain Division in northern Iraq, Kirkuk Province. Pickett was supposed to be home on leave when his unit was attacked by enemy forces, but his homecoming had been delayed. Pickett’s dream of retiring to the mountains of Wyoming died with him in Iraqi desert. The date was June 8, 2008.
The effort to create a memorial in Saratoga has been characterized by short bursts of energy followed by long periods of inactivity. That changed this year with a new, simpler, more elegant design. Summer is running out though, and some construction goals may not be met, say Mayor Creed James at last week’s meeting.
Even finding contractors to bid the curb and gutter has been a problem this summer because of the housing startups in the valley. Councilman Ben Spaulding, an Iraq war veteran himself, has spearheaded the newly formed committee to bring the project to a completion. Spaulding said he’d like to see the construction project become community oriented. Some people can afford to donate money to the effort, he told Bigfoot in a recent interview, others can help just by picking up a rock. Spaulding brought the idea to council last week.
The park will be situated on town-owned property east of Veteran’s Island. The governing body budgeted $35,000 to build it. They are using the earmarked set-aside to match private donations. Mayor James some donations have been received so far.
A lot of town residents might not even know that a fundraiser to develop the park, which will include a number of amenities including a band shell, is underway. Councilman Jon Nelson suggested a high-profile way to raise awareness about it.
An actual motion was not made, but other council members expressed support for Nelson’s idea. The fundraising thermometer for Tyler Pickett Memorial Park, when completed, would reside in the front green space at Saratoga Town Hall, where donations are being accepted. As money is raised this year, the town will match the donations to its $35,000 budget limit.
Pictured above: File photo of Saratoga Town Hall/Police Department. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
