Construction begins on welcome center and restrooms at Lejeune Memorial Gardens

JACKSONVILLE, NC (WITN) – Changes are coming to a beloved garden that honors service members.

The Lejeune Memorial Gardens will feature improvements for visitors to enjoy. A project that has been 20 years in the making is just getting started.

Sharon Klenotiz’s mother, Pat Walker, was one of eight people who came up with the idea.

“It’s very emotional,” Klenotiz said. “I wish my mom was here because she put so much effort into this.”

Over the next six months, the Lejeune Memorial Gardens construction site will soon become a welcome area with restrooms for visitors. The project cost $777,000 that came from the city, county, community and military.

“Not having a bathroom is a big problem,” said Onslow County Commissioner Paul Buchanan. “Especially when you have guest speakers who have to use a facility. They have to be removed from the site and taken somewhere else.”

Jacksonville Deputy City Manager Ron Massey says the city is a place to visit and with the changes underway it will be a destination on many more lists.

“You can take a day trip to Jacksonville,” Massey said. “It takes 15 to 30 minutes to visit the museum and tour the gardens.”

With the idea becoming a reality, officials hope it is a step in the right direction for the city and county.

“It’s amazing to see the growth,” Klenotiz said. “We’ve been in this town since 1979, so it’s amazing to see the growth and hopefully it continues.”

Klenotiz says she wishes her mother were here to experience the garden update.

“She put her all into this,” Klenotiz said. “She was an incredible woman. She accomplished so much, so to see this being built… We’re building this for her.”

The city of Jacksonville says it will host a groundbreaking ceremony once construction is complete.

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