New sign unveiled at entrance of Rock Creek Veterans Park

Posted 1:00PM on Saturday 10th June 2017 ( 7 years ago )

Veterans, friends, family members and government officials gathered at Rock Creek Veterans Park in Gainesville Saturday morning to officially unveil a stone archway at the entrance of the park.

This brick project we have here, we've put in about a thousand bricks. But as we did that, we noticed people didn't know where the park was or anything about it," said Jerry Peck, a member of the Rock Creek Vietnam Veterans group. "So we felt like, if we put an arch out front, that would give people the opportunity to see that sign and see we've got a park down here."

Ninth District Congressman Doug Collins, who is both a Gainesville native and a member of the Air Force, and spoke at the ceremony. He said the park, and now the new archway, is a reminder of what sets Gainesville apart,

"It's just a reminder of our country, of what we have here is very special," said Collins. "This community is special because of these people standing right here. And Rock Creek Park, the military park, is a reminder of those who served and those who didn't come home even, but its a reminder of what binds us together."

Peck said the project was made possible thanks to donations. The veterans groups raised half the money needed to fund the archway, the city provided the other half. Two stone slabs with donor names were placed at the front of park as well. Officials with the City of Gainesville said the archway was designed by SkyDesign and built by Image Manufacturing Group and is the first sign in the City's new Signage Plan to be installed.

Sylvia Peck, wife of Jerry Peck, cuts the ribbon on the new archway

The new entrance to the park is a stone archway, partially funded by donations.

Two stone plaques were also unveiled at the ceremony, with donor names inscribed on them.

Doug Collins speaks before the ribbon is cut.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/6/546605/rock-creek-veterans-park-new-sign