Homer Glen plans to seek bids in April for a veterans memorial, decorative water fountain and pavilion to be built in Heritage Park, its large destination park behind Village Hall. The project, which will be built on about 2 acres of the 103-acre park, 14240 W. 151st St., will include a pillar and f lagpoles dedicated to each branch of the Armed Forces, a prominently-displayed U.S. flag, a flag recognizing prisoners of war and those missing in action, a memorial to fallen soldiers and a battlecross statue honoring those who gave their lives in combat, said Kevin Clark, principal with The Lakota Group. Other features include a memorial wall, brass donor plaques, decorative concrete, benches, ornamental trees and landscaping with a red, white and blue motif, Clark said. “It’s a place of honor. It’s a place of remembrance. It’s a place where the community can come together and celebrate the people who have been in the armed services, the armed forces,” he said. Local veterans offered significant input to the design of the memorial, Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike told the Village Board Wednesday night. “This is exactly what they wanted,” she said. “They didn’t want something dreary. They wanted something that families could come and enjoy and celebrate and remember them by.” Neitzke-Troike said her request is a very large U.S. flag. “I’d like to see it really big and really proud,” she said. The landscaping will be a critical component to the memorial, Clark said. “We don’t want it to be stark,” he said. “We don’t want it to feel lifeless. We want this to have an energy and a life that changes seasonally.” Homer Glen elected officials applaud veteran and resident Lou Zemke after designating Heritage Circle with the honorary street name, Zemke Way. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown) A nearby pavilion will house about 100 guests and include picnic tables and restrooms. A water feature with a variety of spray jets will incorporate lights in the nozzles that can change colors, Clark said. “To me, the park space should be about surprise and delight,” Clark said. The water feature will use well water, and not the village’s pricy private water supplier, Neitzke-Troike said. The village plans to seek bids on the project in April and could break ground as early as May, Clark said. The majority of construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with some additional landscaping that could be planted in 2027, Clark said. Kevin Clark, principal with The Lakota Group, describes the planned veterans memorial to the Homer Glen Village Board during Wednesday's meeting. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown). The cost is projected at $3.9 million, but village officials would look at ways to make it as affordable as possible without sacrificing quality. “(Heritage Park) is our crown jewel, and we will make sure we are doing it right,” village engineer Brett Westcott said. The village hired The Lakota Group in 2024 to update the master plan for Heritage Park, which once was a golf course. Completing the veterans memorial is a top priority for village officials, Neitzke-Troike said. Honoring Lou Zemke Village trustees also voted Wednesday to give Heritage Circle the honorary street name Zemke Way, after resident Lou Zemke, an Army veteran who established the Homer Glen PFC Michael Olivieri American Legion Post in 2011. Lou Zemke’s son, Bill, thanks village officials Wednesday on behalf of his father, 90, for the honorary street sign that bears his name. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown) “What stands out most is (Zemke’s) steady commitment and his unwavering belief that the sacrifices made by our military members should never be forgotten,” Trustee Rose Reynders said. “Lou is not someone who seeks recognition. He is someone who sees a need, steps forward and gets to work.” Reynders, who chairs the village’s Parks and Recreation Committee, said Zemke was a guiding force in planning the veterans memorial. “And that memorial will stand as a lasting reminder of courage, sacrifice and dedication,” Reynders said. “It will also reflect the kind of person Lou is. Someone focused on legacy, not for himself, but for those who served and those we’ve lost.” Zemke’s son, Bill, spoke on behalf of his 90-year-old father, thanking the village for the honor. A full house gathered Wednesday to show its support for Zemke as well as a Homer Glen business Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, 14135 S. Bell Road, which received the mayor’s Inclusive Impact Award for going above and beyond helping special education students from Hadley Middle School. Chase Bank approval The Village Board also voted Wednesday to approve plans to convert a vacant Chili’s restaurant into a Chase Bank, after rejecting the proposal last fall. Chase Bank wants to move from inside Jewel in the Homer Town Square shopping plaza and renovate the former Chili’s, 14025 S. Bell Road, which closed December 2024. Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown)Chili's Grill and Bar, 14025 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen, closed its doors in December 2024. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown) Some trustees said they preferred another restaurant to take Chili’s space when denying the project in September. Representatives for Chase made a few modifications to their proposal and reapplied for a permit. Village trustees said while they don’t believe the former Chili’s is the best use for the bank, they do not want to see a vacant building and want to support the expansion of an existing business. “I would rather be an ally to a business looking to expand in Homer Glen rather than an adversary,” Trustee Mike Lepore said. Jon Krissoff, market director of real estate for Chase Bank, said the Jewel branch offered limited services, and a new, larger bank would better serve the community. “Chase has been a staple in our community for many, many years,” Reynders said. “I think this is going to be a great opportunity for them to be able to provide more service to the customers they have in Homer Glen and actually increase some of their customers.” Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. ...read more read less