The future site of the Veterans Tribute in Central Park was retracted by the city manager in June.

Seven years after the city of Murphy designated half an acre of land in Central Park for a tribute to veterans, the nonprofit project is being forced to scale back.

In August 2017, the Murphy City Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 17-R-855 designating an area of no more than one-half acre as the site for the Murphy Veterans Tribute (MVT).

“Upon completion, the maintenance of the grounds of the Veterans Tribute will be performed by the Murphy Parks Department and the land will continue to be owned by the City of Murphy,” the resolution said.

On June 6, City Manager Aretha Adams sent MVT President Mary Pat Elledge a letter informing her the site was no longer available.

“Unfortunately, despite your considerable fundraising efforts, the project has not met the financial goals required to bring it to fruition,” Adams said. “After careful consideration and discussion, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the city to rescind the previous verbal commitments, including the designation of land in Central Park for the memorial.”

The city manager went on to say that because these commitments were either verbal or made by resolution, the city attorney advised there was no need for a public vote because a council resolution is not a legally binding contract.

“This unexpected change is deeply disappointing — not only for our veterans but also for the many individuals and donors who have poured their hearts, time and resources into this long-awaited and meaningful effort,” Elledge said in a letter to MVT donors, supporters and board members.

She added that the organization had been awarded a $109,000 matching grant from Collin County and the group was close to being able to break ground.

In her letter, Adams said council had directed her to offer “an alternative location to honor our veterans in a more modest fashion.”

The city manager said the city was open to exploring a small-scale tribute within the existing flagpole area at the Murphy Fire Department.

“The project would need to remain within the existing footprint and your board’s current budget of cash on hand, so as not to require any additional fundraising,” Adams said.

About a dozen supporters of the project attended the Tuesday, Aug. 5, regular meeting of the city council. Mary Lange, an Air Force veteran and member of the MVT board, read from council’s May 2024 resolution “acknowledging a future partnership with the Murphy Veterans Tribute in connection with construction and ongoing maintenance of a veterans memorial in Murphy, Texas.”

Syed Hussain, a developer, spoke in support of the project tribute. “I’m little bit taken aback the decision of city council not to approve the original site,” he said.

Hussain added he had donated to the project and had been working with the MVT board since 2020 by helping to identify other donors among Murphy business leaders and members of the Islamic Association of Murphy.

He also said the proposed site at the fire station facing Murphy Road would not be suitable for children or elderly veterans wishing to honor and pay respects to the city’s fallen warriors.

In light of the new development, Elledge said, “A new design direction would be needed, which the city would plan with our input and execute with the help of our MVT funds, which would need to be voted on and approved by our board of directors.”

Adams closed her letter by saying, “I understand that this decision may be disappointing, and I want to assure you that it was made with great respect for the efforts of everyone involved …Thank you again for your dedication to our community and our veterans.”

Assistant City Manager Jared Mayfield said there were no specific plans for the property. “It will return as part of the park’s open space,” he said.

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