Montrose’s Veterans Memorial Plaza is moving closer to construction after years of planning. Backed by city, county, and community support, the project has secured key funding and donations, with a groundbreaking ceremony expected later this spring.
Plans for a long-awaited Veterans Memorial Plaza in Montrose are gaining momentum, with city and county leaders aligning alongside veterans and community partners to move the project into its next phase.
At a March 16 work session, Montrose City Council reviewed an updated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of Montrose, Montrose County, and the Montrose Veterans Coalition—an agreement that will guide construction of the memorial and clarify responsibilities among all parties.
The effort to create a dedicated veterans memorial dates back to 2022, when city and county officials first partnered with the coalition to begin planning. A 2024 agreement established early roles and priorities, leading to the completion of site selection and design work in 2025. That progress laid the foundation for the project now moving toward construction.
The memorial plaza is planned for a site just west of the Montrose Botanic Gardens, where it will serve as a permanent civic space honoring veterans from Montrose and the broader region.
City leaders and project partners are now preparing for a groundbreaking ceremony later this spring, which is expected to coincide with a community workday involving a Montrose-based unit of the Colorado National Guard—an early signal of the project’s strong local engagement.
Community support has also played a critical role in advancing the effort. Members of the Montrose Veterans Coalition, alongside representatives from Stryker and Company, have spent recent months securing financial commitments and in-kind contributions from local businesses and suppliers. These contributions are helping reduce overall project costs and stretch available public funding further.
Project leaders estimate that approximately $125,000 in donated services, materials, and labor has already been secured from construction industry partners. These contributions build on earlier fundraising efforts that enabled the coalition to acquire a retired UH-1 Huey helicopter, which will serve as a centerpiece of the memorial.
The total project cost is estimated at roughly $730,000, with $600,000 funded through city and county contributions. Organizers say the combination of public funding and private support positions the project to be completed efficiently and potentially under budget.
The revised MOA presented to council replaces the earlier agreement and provides updated clarity on financial commitments and project responsibilities as construction begins. Formal approval from both Montrose City Council and Montrose County is still required before work can officially start.
If approved, the project will enter its construction phase—marking a major milestone in a multi-year, community-driven effort to create a lasting tribute to local veterans.
Residents interested in supporting the project or learning more can visit montrosevmc.org.
