A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday, March 10, to celebrate the completion of the new Hospice Memorial Garden gazebo at DeHart Park.
The original gazebo was destroyed by fire in April 2024. This is part of an ongoing arson investigation.
The new structure was built by students in the Patrick County High School (PCHS) Building Trades II course.
Philip Steagall, teacher, said members of the Stuart Park Board approached him about rebuilding the gazebo last year.
“Actually, after it happened—because we built the other one that was here,” Steagall said. “It was a little late in the school year to start when they asked me, so I said, if you can wait until we start next year, we’d be glad to.”
Work on the gazebo began in November and was completed by mid-January.
“We had to wait for the weather to freeze up or thaw out enough to be able to bring it down here because we didn’t want to get the truck stuck,” Steagall said. “So, it sat for two or three weeks before we brought it out.”
Patrick Building Supply donated the lumber for the project.
Steagall said another potential project for DeHart Park is repairing the bridge near a picnic shelter, which is currently closed due to damage.
