Nitro City Council moved forward Tuesday night on a project that would connect future generations to Nitro's World War I legacy.
"This will be a memorial park that honors our veterans, honors our history and it will give all our citizens a sense of place," Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said. "This project excites me more than anything else."
Council members voted to match a $60,000 grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to move the project forward.
The memorial park will be next to City Hall on Second Avenue. Only two council members - Andy Shamblin and Laurie Elkins - voted against the project.
Casebolt believes the memorial park will create a much-needed sense of place for all citizens. He said the new memorial park would host a number of community events. It's currently home to the city's taste-of-all and antique car show. In the future, Casebolt said a stage could be built and seniors can host their dances there as well. Baker International was selected to design the park.
The project falls in line with the almost year-long city re-branding effort. Nitro has statues and a museum that pay tribute to its World War I roots. Nitro will be a living memorial to the war and the memorial park adds to it, Casebolt said.
The city got its name and beginning with manufacturing gunpowder for World War I. Nitro was one of three cities to have massive explosives plants constructed to supply American troops per the "Deficiency Appropriations Act" of October 6, 1917.
Councilman Shamblin agrees with the city's re-branding efforts, but disagrees with the location and use of land.
"I cannot envision using that property as a park," Shamblin said.
Shamblin would like to see the city maintain and invest in its two current parks, adding that the city has existing facilities to host community events. He is in favor of creating a World War I memorial at City Park or Ridenour Memorial Park.
In other business, council:
n Passed an ordinance to modify a section of the city's law enforcement training reimbursement to make it more consistent with state code
n Approved Nov. 17 meeting minutes
n Set the Christmas Parade for Dec. 12, starting at 4 p.m.