Resident wants first responder tribute at Clove Park
Plans for the long-awaited park at The Clove, cleverly dubbed Clove Park, are due, village officials say, within a couple of months.
Debbie Salvesen is waiting with eager anticipation.
Salvesen isn’t a Village Board member, nor a village staff member, or a committee member.
She’s a resident on a mission.
While the village has forked over more than $100,000 to consultants to design the plot, which is just more than an acre, in The Clove Salvesen has an idea which she submitted to the village when it held an open house to generate ideas in July of last year.
Her idea? It doesn’t have anything to do with playground equipment, flowers, trees, entertainment stage or even benches.
Salvesen’s idea focuses on first responders.
The longtime Buffalo Grove resident thinks the Clove park would be the perfect venue to honor and recognize the village’s police officers, fire fighters, EMS workers and the Police Department’s Canine unit.
“These four departments play a vital role in our Village maintaining a high ranking for a desirable place to live in Illinois,” Salvesen says. “It is far past time we honor the silent heroes of our community. Before we invest millions of dollars into a new Village Hall set back off of the main road, invisible from Lake Cook Road, let the Village acknowledge their commitment and appreciation to the firefighters, police, emergency medical/management department, and the K-9 teams that work in all types of weather, in various types of dangerous conditions 24/7/365 without hesitation.” She does not have any connections to the police or fire departments. So, what’s her motivation? “It is a matter of civic pride and commitment to have them honored,” she says.
To say Salvesen is passionate about this idea is an understatement. She envisions the “Dedication monument” to be located on the northwest corner of the development of The Clove gathering place currently being designed and developed.
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“It is the last Village designated place for our community to gather and celebrate where we live,” she says.
So, what’s her motivation? Community pride. Salvesen and her husband, Rick, have lived in Buffalo Grove for 35 years. While no one in her family is a first responder, she is a vet, having served as a nurse with the 801st Combat Support Hospital and she has a son currently serving in the armed forces.
“I have always had a great passion for honor, service and giving back to our community,” she says.
Which fuels frustration for Salvesen – a lot of it. “If we don't take an active role to get the monument a place in the park through citizen support it will never happen.”
She adds that despite being a relatively small space, the Clove park is “the last community gathering place planned and widely advertised by our government.”
Pictured above is the type of tribute for first responders Debbie
Salvesen would like to see in Clove Park.
Yes, I am VERY passionate about what WE, as a community, should support - the monument for OUR FOUR Departments in this development. It will not happen unless YOU add your voice to this suggested idea to be included in the final design of the Clove Park.
ReplyDeleteSome of you may be questioning why there is a picture of a Gold Star Family monument instead of one for MULTIPLE First Responders, well the fact is I could not find one, so I used the closest monument I could find as to the size of the vision I have have for honoring our First Responders from the past, present and future officers of this thriving community. Ideally, this monument would be on the most visible corner for the community and visitors to see, the NW corner, since they would be coming from the various businesses in that development to enjoy the gathering place for some peaceful, quiet interaction with other residents. The CLOVE was designed to attract young professionals, retirees, maybe even a family with a very young child who will be moving into a BG home as their family increases in size. The development is not designed for families with many children, or multiple generations living in the two bedroom apartments, so the design of the park should be focused primarily on the people paying to live there, not have loud kids running around at all hours or huge parties planned there. The community park with the amphitheater, pavillion, splash n' play park for YOUNG children, the baseball fields, the nature park and the golf dome was designed for those activities. Hopefully, they will rebuild the ONLY handicapped accessible park for children which was torn down to build the amphitheater and bathrooms. BUT, that is a discussion for another day and is run by the Buffalo Grove Park District and not by the Village of Buffalo Grove as the CLOVE Park is under their authority.
I don't know what their final design for the Clove Park will be, put I always pictured it as some where we can gather, talk, meditate, revitalize our spiritual energy, remember a quieter time in a subdued, peaceful space. Something totally different from anything ever built in Buffalo Grove. I have pictured it with a round multi-tiered fountain in the center with water slowly trickling down the sides while being recycled so not to waste water. The fountain would be surrounded by park benches (with backs) for those of us needing it. Then there would be grass separating the fountain area with other areas with shade and concrete slabs to put tables and chairs for small, intimate places friends can gather and share the day. There could be lounges on one them so more can peacefully relax. Those slabs could be connected to the outer perimeters of the 1 acre lot with walkways, some handicapped accessibility for wheelchairs and easier walking for people with mobility challenges, while others could be connected with larger stone pavers to the outer perimeter so if the grass is wet or muddy, people can still enjoy the table sections without walking in mud. The final outer perimeter would have the First Responders' dedication monument, maybe surrounded by perennials or colored ferns and small solar lights angled up so the monument can be seen. The other corners could have flower gardens, even a raised one with Braille so visually impaired people who know what was planted. Even the First Responders' monument could have a Braille section identical to the inscription on the front of the monument.
It is only my opinion, but I believe that is the best use of the space, the most inclusive for those who are either older and have mobility challenges or those who need accessible inclusion (including sight impairment) and one of the most environmentally friendly community spaces. PLEASE support this concept by letting the Village President, Board of Trustees, Zoning/Planning Commission, the Village Manger and the Village Planning Manager or even just some of them KNOW YOU hope this monument is included. Our First Responders deserve this recognition.