ONTARIO — A new memorial could give Ontario residents a place to reflect, remember and honor those who served their country. The Veterans Advisory Panel is looking to Marshall Park as its home.

The park stood out to the panel because of its visibility and accessibility. However, questions about parking and the future of a military vehicle displayed there remain unanswered.

Kenneth Kmetz, chair of the Veterans Advisory Panel, updated City Council Wednesday evening on the group’s progress, including its preferred location, early design discussions and recommendations for moving the project forward.

Marshall Park’s sand volleyball courts were selected after reviewing about four potential locations. Kmetz noted the flat terrain, nearby parking, handicapped-accessible spaces and steady traffic through the park as reasons for their choice.

“We settled very quickly on Marshall Park,” Kmetz said.

Although the panel prefers Marshall Park, the proposal has not been approved. Council President Eddie Gallo said the next step would be a committee meeting.

Panel outlines plans for memorial

It’s huge. I mean this is something that was dreamed up, and you’re putting action to so many people’s thoughts. So I appreciate that.

kenn spencer

The panel includes 11 members, with representation from nearly every military service branch, a range of ages and a mix of active-duty veterans, reservists, National Guard members and civilians who support veterans.

The group met Oct. 1 and Oct. 15 to discuss the memorial’s purpose, review possible locations and begin exploring design concepts.

Kmetz said they also reviewed existing memorials in Galion, Ashland, Crestline, Mount Gilead and Sparta, along with AI-generated concepts and sketches.

The panel has not settled on a final design, Kmetz said. They plan to choose a general shape and identify their five preferred features, which could include a water feature, benches, lighting and plaques.

The group also discussed involving Ontario schools, potentially through a student design contest, although Kmetz said that idea remains in its early stages.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to start narrowing it down,” Kmetz said. “But you can see we’re being very thorough.”

Secretary Kaitlin Wuertz said they also discussed incorporating the different military branches into the memorial’s design. Members will continue those discussions at an upcoming meeting.

Duster’s future and park congestion draw concerns

Although the panel favors Marshall Park, city recreation director Kenn Spencer questioned whether the park’s existing parking limitations make it the right location for a major new attraction.

Spencer described the park as one of Ontario’s busiest areas, with baseball fields, a dog park, a growing disc golf course and auxiliary sports fields competing for parking.

He said even a small number of simultaneous baseball games can fill nearby spaces, forcing visitors to park farther away.

“It’s huge. I mean this is something that was dreamed up, and you’re putting action to so many people’s thoughts. So I appreciate that,” he said.

“I would hate for somebody not to come because they could pull in, and the park is full,” Spencer said.

Spencer pointed to Stowell Park as possible alternative, where the city has discussed improvements, including a new parking lot, and said a memorial could help support broader investments there.

“And that road is incredibly busy out there where Walmart stands,” Spencer added. “There is a ton of traffic on Ferguson and that neighborhood is incredibly receptive to ideas like this.”

Kmetz acknowledged the parking concerns, but said Marshall Park remains the best choice.

“I think the good outweighs the negative,” he said.

Kmetz said the panel unanimously opposes keeping the M42 Duster, a military vehicle displayed at Marshall Park, at the proposed memorial site. He cited its deteriorating condition and lack of maintenance.

“When I think of a veteran, I don’t think of somebody who is deteriorating and falling apart, and that’s exactly what that tank is doing,” Kmetz said.

Gallo said the vehicle is an asset of the U.S. military.

“We’re assigned to it, but don’t think that it’s an anchor to your project,” he said. “We can figure out what we’re doing as a city with that.”

Gallo encouraged the panel to continue developing its design ideas while the city works through questions about the final location and the Duster.

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