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New county park has a name: Westminster Veterans Memorial Park

A new park in Westminster will be named in honor of local residents who have served in the armed forces.

The name, "Westminster Veterans Memorial Park," was chosen this week for a new park being constructed on Crest Lane in Westminster.

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In recent months, the Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks held a "Name Your New Park" promotion to help select a name for the park, and fielded more than 200 responses. Jeff Degitz, director of the department, said more than 60 different names were submitted for consideration.

"Examples included recently deceased military personnel and radio personalities, former volunteers and coaches, local historical names and references to land grants and geographic references to the park's location," said Degitz in an email to The Eagle.

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Officials said the diversity of entries surpassed the department's expectations, and made for a difficult choice by the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board.

James Rodgers of Westminster submitted the winning name and — along with bragging rights — will receive a $50 gift certificate to Carroll County Recreation an Parks programs.

At least one of the names not chose was that of Dwight Dingle, the longtime WTTR Radio station manager and morning-show host who died in November 2009 at age 63. Rose Frock, of Westminster, had proposed Dingle's name, and gathered a petition, with the station's support, to suggest it as a strong option.

The new 32-acre park is located on Crest Lane across from Westminster Baptist Church. Using Program Open Space funds, the county acquired the parcel in 2010. Ball fields, trails and a playground are slated for the park.

Degitz said the county's current six-year capital budget includes $146,000 for design and engineering in FY13 — projected to be available July 1 of this year — and $2 million for construction in FY15.

He noted that these funds consist of impact fees and Program Open Space money — and can only be utilized for park acquisition and development.

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