Work on Memorial for Abducted Cousins to Begin Soon

A poster with photos of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, who disappeared in Evansdale last Friday, adorn a utility pole across from the entrance to Meyers Lake in Evansdale, Iowa, Monday, July 16, 2012. Their bikes were found Friday afternoon near a bike trail at the edge of Meyers Lake in Evansdale. (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Brandon Pollock)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Feb 22, 2013 at 1:52 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2013 at 5:37 PM CDT

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Work could begin soon on a permanent memorial for two Iowa cousins who disappeared last summer.

Construction of the memorial for Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins could start in just a few weeks at Meyers Lake if the Evansdale Park Board approves it during a special meeting Saturday, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported.

Community volunteer Dona Frickson, who also leads the Evansdale Chamber of Commerce, said contractors are donating labor and materials.

"People are phenomenal," she said. "I can't say enough about the people that are participating, from the contractors, from the community. This is a community project."

The board voted earlier this month to name the park at the lake Angels Park. An adjacent lakeside trail will be called Trail of Angels. The girls were last seen in July riding their bikes by the lake. Their bodies were found in December in a wooded area, and authorities continue to investigate the case.

Construction will incorporate the lake's island into the park by adding a gazebo and building a road to it.

Mayor Chad Deutsch said the meeting was scheduled Saturday because contractors are eager to get started ahead of the regular construction season. The gazebo project includes clearing undergrowth and brush trees on the island, he said.

Deutsch noted the volunteer support at a recent meeting regarding the project.

"It's pretty heartwarming," he said.

The newspaper reported the memorial is estimated to cost $100,000. First Security State Bank and the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa recently donated $10,000 toward the project.