Word is quickly spreading about a new Smithville park that will combine a children’s water recreation area and a memorial monument to the fallen soldiers of Bastrop County.

Smithville Mayor Mark Bunte and Patti Patton Bader, founder of Soldier’s Angels, a non-profit organization that supports tens of thousands of American military personnel across the globe with care packages from home, developed the concept for the park after a conversation about the fallen heroes from Smithville and the Bastrop County area.

Patton-Bader and her husband Jeff moved to the Bastrop area a couple of years ago. The couple was moved by tributes to Sgt. Mario Rodriguez, who was killed in Afghanistan in June.

“We were on the highway when his procession went by,” Patton-Bader said. “We knew there was just so much pain. I thought we needed to do something for these families.”

Patton-Bader, who is a grandniece of General George S. Patton, works with wounded soldiers and families of the fallen everyday.

A park for kids

“I was wondering – it’s just such a large number of soldiers to lose, per capita, from such a small area – what can we do to help the community?” Patton-Bader said. “Mark and I agreed that doing something for the children was a wonderful way to show our appreciation and that’s when he mentioned the splash park.”

Patton-Bader said many of the affected families she had spoken to have said they would like to see something for children.

“I have wanted to get something for the kids as far as water recreation,” Bunte said. “I truly want to honor these soldiers, too.”

Talks between Patton-Bader and Bunte quickly led to discussions with civic leaders, artists and other interested parties. Everyone was in agreement that the project is a good idea for the area.

The memorial park project is going forward in two parts. The water splash park, which will be situated behind the Smithville Recreation Center, will move forward first, followed by placement of the memorial statue.

Andis Goble, parks and recreation director for Smithville, said splash and spray parks provide a unique opportunity for children to get wet and have fun.

“Spray parks have come a long way as far as technology and cost a lot less than building and maintaining a pool,” Goble said. “Industry professionals feel that another major advantage of spray parks is that they are much more active than most traditional pools – kids are actively playing with the squirt guns and other play structures compared to waiting in a long line to slide down a slide or jump off a diving board.”

Local idea becomes regional project

Jana Hellbusch, chairman of the Red, White and Blue Veterans of Bastrop County, got behind the memorial park idea as soon as she heard about it. Hellbusch helped organize a meeting between Patton-Bader, Bunte and families of the fallen heroes.

“It was very inspiring to me to meet the families of these soldiers and see the pride and excitement they felt when asked what they wanted in the memorial park and were asked to participate,” Hellbusch said.

Bunte says the park quickly grew into more than just a Smithville area project.

“This will be a community initiative and it will take efforts from across the county,” Bunte said. “The memorial will encompass Bastrop, Elgin and areas across the county that have lost a soldier.”

Bunte said the memorial would remember soldiers from the area who have fallen since World War I.

“It’s a remembrance of the soldiers who have died in the last ten years,” Bunte said. “But we will recognize the soldiers of the past who have fallen.”

Clint Howard, owner of Deep in the Heart Art Foundry in Bastrop, was approached about participating in the project because of his work with other memorial sculptures, including the statue in front of the Bastrop fire station.

Although an artist has not been officially chosen or a final design considered, Howard would be involved through the foundry.

“I am always excited to help bring art to the public, especially when it’s so close to home,” Howard said. “I am excited about this piece because it’s a tribute to our fallen soldiers. These men and women deserve to be honored for their service and sacrifice and it is a privilege to possibly help do that.”

The memorial park could generate a mixture of emotions for patrons.

“I hope that while the children and their families are there they will reflect on the importance of the memorial and about the sacrifices made by people and families just like their own,” Hellbusch said. “This memorial park can be so much more that just a place to play and relax. It should be a place of pride for all citizens of Bastrop County.”

Getting the word out

Hellbusch said the next step is to tell everyone.

“We reach out to people who have an interest in the military, people who may have known our local fallen soldiers or their families and those who want to make a difference in their home community,” Hellbusch said. “We will talk to civic organizations and private businesses, men and women who feel passionate about recognizing our heroes. And we’ll tell people across the country who feel compassionate about fallen heroes and invite them to make a difference in Bastrop County while giving the children a cool place to play on hot days.”

Patton-Bader, whose organization has an impressive track record with close to $6 million in donations in 2009, is confident the funding will be forthcoming.

“Once the call to action goes out and once folks know how they can help they generally do,” Patton-Bader said.

Bunte said the city has set up a special account for donations and that patrons can donate through PayPal or by credit card at the city of Smithville website at http://www.ci.smithville.tx.us/Home/City-of-Smithville-News/Memorial-Park-Project.aspx

“We are going to get a lot of people coming in to see this,” Bunte said. “It’s going to be beautiful and it will make an impression on people.”