On a warm and sunny Saturday, Sept. 21, friends and family gathered at Veterans Park in Brentwood around noon for a final farewell in honor of 21-year-old Ravi Sidhu, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in June on Balfour Road not far from the park.

They came for the unveiling of a memorial water fountain with an engraved plaque honoring Ravi on what would have been his 22nd birthday.

"His life was too short," said Tarlochan "Tony" Sidhu, Ravi's father. "But he lived and loved every day of it. He was always a happy guy - fun to be around. Always smiling and joking around."

The dedication fountain is the first in a new program operated by the Brentwood Department of Parks and Recreation.

"We have done this on a case-by-case basis for the past four or five years," said Landscape Supervisor Barry Margesson. "But now we have a formal program that we just got going this spring. It really is a great way of honoring a loved one."

Margesson said the program was created by Brandi Marx, a former intern with Brentwood's Department of Parks and Recreation.

"She pulled a lot of information from what other cities are doing," Margesson said. "Then she put together a program for us."

The city will eventually create a dedication tree at the Brentwood Community Center, where people may place an engraved recognition leaf for $150. An engraved drinking fountain costs $2,500.

In addition to an engraved leaf or drinking fountain plaque, other choices are dedication bricks and tiles for $100 or $500, currently available at Veterans Park only. A bench with a plaque goes for $1,500, while a picnic table with a plaque costs $3,000. People also may purchase a tree as a memorial in honor of a loved one. Margesson said trees run around $200, depending on size.

Margesson said that Parks and Recreation staff will assist you in selecting a park or facility, along with the selection of the dedication item. All costs include installation, upkeep and the plaque.

"You've got a lot of options if you want to create a memorial for a loved one," Margesson said. He said that the memorial bricks at Creekside Park are an example of the historical value of such memorials.

"A lot of the bricks there are honoring Brentwood pioneers who shaped the community," Margesson pointed out.

For more information about the dedication program, call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 516-5444.