Heritage Park proposed site of community-bonding Peace Pole Plaza
Examples of Peace Poles pictured on the World Peace website.
Canton Township’s Heritage Park has been recommended as the site for a proposed “Peace Pole”, which WorldPeace.org describes as “a symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth.”
The township board of trustees is expected to discuss and vote April 11 on the development of a Peace Pole Plaza, which would feature a white pole reading “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in different languages. The plaza would be enhanced by the planting of landscaping and natural seating.
The total cost of the project, according to the board’s meeting minutes, would be $39,378.50, $22,500 of which has already been offset by donations from local businesses, organizations and individual residents.
Donors stepping up big-time
Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi, MD FAAD of Hamzavi/Dermatology Specialists and his family has already donated $10,000 toward the project. Additional generous donations have been received from Pilz Automation Safety, L.P. ($7,500) and Pilz Automation Safety, L.P. ($7,500) local churches including St. Thomas a’Becket Catholic Church and Geneva Presbyterian Church.
A team of township staff chose the most-common languages spoken amongst Canton residents, including: Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Korean, Polish, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Japanese, Gujarati and Punjabi.
Leisure Services has worked with Canton’s current provider of landscaping, Reliable Landscaping, Inc. to design this future space.
Residents can add their own messages
Conceptual plans for the project include a memorial brick program that will allow community members to have a commemorative message etched into the plaza for years to come. Funds from this program will go toward the cost of the project’s implementation.
The conceptual plan for the plaza has the space set for near the main entry of Heritage Park and the park’s amphitheater.
The proposed project was approved by the township’s primary decision-makers, including the finance and budget director and supervisor.
According to WorldPeace.org, there are an estimated 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.
