ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 31, 1993                   TAG: 9301290077
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium


TREES, MONUMENT NEXT STEPS AT PARK

Even the coldest weather has not kept people from using the walking trail circling Withers Park in downtown Wytheville.

The next steps in development of the park - which used to be Withers Field, hosting sports activities - will be planting trees around the park and completing a Wall of Honor that will be its focal point.

Wytheville officials will go to the Bluefield (W.Va.) Monument Co., low bidder on the wall project, early in February to inspect the stone to be used. Its foundations are complete, and concrete work is continuing each day when it is not too cold.

The Wall of Honor will list the names of area residents who have died in service to their country since World War II. It also will list Wythe County people named to the county's Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as civic leaders.

Wytheville Town Council recently added three names to the civic leaders segment:

Dr. Carl E. Stark, a doctor who helped start several regional organizations, including a planning district commission, and who was Wytheville's mayor for 28 years.

Robert Eley Johnson, who has headed county bicentennial and industrial efforts as well as the steering committee that pushed for the establishment of what is now Wytheville Community College.

The late Sidney J. Kincer, a two-term council member active in both industrial and history organizations.

Dedication ceremonies for the Wall of Honor are planned for May 30, Memorial Day. Funding for the project is being raised by donations, which are at about $28,000 now.

The goal for donations had been $35,000, but Assistant Town Manager Steve Moore said the cost is going to be closer to $40,000. Council has appropriated money to be reimbursed through contributions, which will continue being received even after the wall is dedicated.

Donors giving $100 or more will have their names in the stone leading to the monuments section of the park, and the names of those giving $1,000 or more will be inscribed on the floor around the monument itself.

Time is running out for the placement of names. Moore said mid-February will be about the deadline for adding new ones prior to the dedication.

Exercise equipment, a children's playground, picnic shelter, water fountains and an amphitheater also are planned for the park.

In 1991, the town reopened its swimming pool after it had been closed for three years for repairs and improvements. The renovation of McWane Pool cost more than $700,000.

Last year the town got a $14,930 beautification grant to buy and plant 110 trees along the park perimeter. About 30 kinds will be planted, along with signs to identify their type and species.

Moore said other parts of the park's development will be announced in the near future.



by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB