This veterans memorial in EDCO Park has caught the eye of several Evans City residents, who hope to move it to what they consider to be a more prominent location.

EVANS CITY — A bid to clean the veterans’ memorial in EDCO Park was tabled earlier this month due to debate over possibly moving the brick-and-stone tribute.

Residents — and borough officials — now disagree on where to put it.

The discussion began Aug. 5 when Lee Dyer, council president, brought forth a bid to clean the memorial, “making it look the way it should look.”

“We can’t allow honoring sites to deteriorate,” Dyer said afterward. “It’s not respectful, in my opinion.”

Dyer said cleaning the memorial and the possibility of moving it are two separate issues, but other council members and residents said input should be sought from veterans before any action.

Resident Rich Reifenstein, who served in the Navy, said the memorial is “out of the way.”

“Most of the people (I’ve talked to) think it should be made more apparent that it’s a veterans’ memorial,” he added.

Reifenstein said many others he’s spoken with say the memorial should be relocated to Main Street. Currently, a plaque, benches and an American flag stand at the corner of East Main and Center Alley.

Another Navy veteran, Dave Spithaler, said its current location serves those it honors best. He cited a lack of nearby traffic and the number of parking spaces.

“I think it needs to stay where it’s at,” Spithaler said.

While Dyer supports keeping the memorial in the park, he said he would support wherever local veterans want it. Mayor Dean Zinkhann said a Main Street location would be better.

“It should get more attention,” he said. “A lot of people in town have no idea it’s there.”