Bedford is moving ahead with a permanent tribute to local veterans, putting a $218,500 construction contract behind a new memorial plaza at Harris Ryals Park. The project is expected to enter construction within weeks, with the city aiming to have the site ready for a Veterans Day ceremony in November.
During its July 14 meeting, the Bedford City Council authorized City Manager Andrea Roy to sign a contract with MGS Cortex Construction, Inc. The award includes a $193,500 construction price and $25,000 in contingency funds, according to the Fort Worth Report and the council’s July 14 agenda.
A Memorial Plaza Built For Reflection And Community Events
The planned plaza will include memorial walls, commemorative plaques, flagpoles, seating areas, walking paths and landscaping. The City of Bedford says the space is intended for reflection, education, patriotic ceremonies and community gatherings, turning a section of the 32-acre park into a more formal place of remembrance.
The design also calls for a 21-foot-long monument, bronze seals representing all six military branches and the relocation of existing 1974 POW/MIA plaques. City officials previously said stone from the former Boys Ranch gymnasium would be incorporated into the project, connecting Bedford history with the new memorial.
Why Harris Ryals Park Was Chosen
The memorial’s setting is deliberate: Harris Ryals Park is named for an Army veteran who served 22 years across World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, then spent another 21 years working for Bedford’s Parks and Recreation Department. A previous city project update said the park was selected because of Ryals’ military and civic service, as well as its proximity to trails, a school and a future senior activity center.
The park already has a walking and jogging trail, playgrounds, shaded areas and a pavilion, according to the city’s park information. The new plaza is expected to add a civic and ceremonial anchor to those everyday recreational amenities.
Construction Targets November 11 Ceremony
Bedford says crews are expected to begin work in the next few weeks and that completion is being timed for a special ceremony on November 11. The project is funded through Series 2019 general obligation taxable bonds, and the city said MGS Cortex emerged as the highest-scoring bidder after bid information was sent to 58 vendors and 10 responses were received, according to the council documents.
