They may not be yellow bricks, but the Santa Clarita City Council will be considering three different ways to follow the memorial brick road at the Veterans Historical Plaza in Old Town Newhall.

Bricks inscribed with names of war veterans are a featured attraction at the Veterans Historical Plaza, but the best way for families to find the bricks they’ve purchased to honor family and friends, is up to debate.

One suggestion before the City Council is the installation of an information kiosk with a computerized brick finder.

Duane Harte, Vice-President of the Veterans Memorial Committee and Chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission, is not in favor of the kiosk.

“To need an electronic device to find a brick out there we think detracts from the beauty of the park. Would it be easier for a few people? Yes, it probably would be, but we just don’t believe it’s a necessity,” Harte said.

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Additionally, Harte and the Commission gave the following reasons for not pursuing a kiosk:

• A kiosk is more appropriate for use at much larger sized memorials.
• This type of an amenity would be subject to vandalism.
• Maintenance of a kiosk could be expensive, ongoing, and difficult.

Harte also believes a kiosk would take away from the history and serenity of the park.

“As it is right now people can go out and while they’re looking for their brick, they can look at all the other bricks as well and see who else is being memorialized out there in the bricks around the park,” Harte said.

Another option is simply to place a map onsite. Harte isn’t a fan of this proposal either.

“It would be extremely complicated mainly because bricks are constantly being added and to have to update that signage every time you add new bricks would be very inefficient,” Harte said.

City officials believe a map would be the most cost-effective alternative.

“Copies of the map could be made available at Veterans Historical Plaza for those who wish to take a copy, and the map could also be placed on the City’s website. Maintaining and updating the records could be done using current staff resources, and printing and maintenance costs are estimated at $1,500 annually,” according to city documents.

Rather than using paper maps, Harte is in favor of using new technology.

“There would be a map on the city’s website that you could pull up on your smart phone or on your computer at home or whatever and locate your brick through that. And then just go out to the park and you have a pretty good idea where to look for it,” Harte said.

The City estimates the cost of an electronic kiosk at $33,900.

Harte is concerned that the funding would come from brick sales money that is currently being used to maintain the park and also from taxpayers.

“Money could come from brick sales and lot of it would come from general funds and Parks and Rec, and we don’t think that’s a necessity.”

Harte, who worked on getting the memorial built since 1999, wants to preserve the Veterans Historical Plaza as an “absolutely beautiful setting.”

“Personally, I’m more proud of that park than just about anything else in Santa Clarita.”

The Santa Clarita City Council meets Tuesday at 6 p.m.