City buys building for veterans park museum

Aug. 6--DIXON -- The Dixon Veterans Memorial Park is one step closer to reaching its longtime goal of having a museum.

The City Council approved buying Ron's Automotive next door to the park at 1217 Palmyra St. for $165,000 from owners Ron and Ruth Dewey on Monday, using funds the park commission has raised across many years.

Commission members looked to close the sale earlier this summer, but the group is a branch of the city and needed approval from the City Council, which also wanted an environmental assessment of the property.

The contract is subject to a 70-day due diligence period for environmental testing at the site.

The commission operates self sufficiently, and plans are also in the works to form a nonprofit organization for the park.

The museum would showcase military equipment, uniforms and artifacts collected over the years.

The park operates solely on donations, with the bulk of funds coming from selling legacy stones that are embedded in the park.

Call 815-288-1911 or go to honorourvets.org to donate or for more information on Veterans Memorial Park, 668 state Route 2.

NEXT MEETING

The City Council next meets at 5:30 p.m.Aug. 19 at City Hall, 121 W. Second St.

Go to discoverdixon.org or call City Hall at 815-288-1485 for an agenda or more information.

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