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The Park Ridge Heritage Committee isn't quite ready to move forward with a suggestion that Hillary Clinton's name and accomplishments be added to the last granite block of city milestones displayed at Hodges Park.

Meeting at City Hall on Feb. 14, a majority of the seven members in attendance appeared to support a motion that the committee "consider" devoting a plaque to Clinton, but agreed not make a formal decision at this time.

A draft proposal shared by committee member Otto Kohler recommended the block be engraved with "Hillary Rodham Clinton," followed by her positions as first lady, U.S. senator, U.S. secretary of state and candidate for president.

"I personally would like to see Hillary's name on that plaque . [but] I do think the political climate is such that this is not the time to pursue that," said Heritage Committee member Nancy Pytel.

Another member, Patricia Adlaf, agreed that the committee can keep the idea "at the back of our minds," but also said the timing is not right, as the group needs to concentrate on selling Heritage Committee Chairman Milton Nelson's book, "Park Ridge: Milestones of History."

The book, which was published last year, dedicates three full pages to Clinton, touching on her childhood and high school years in Park Ridge, her time as first lady of the United States, and her run for president as the Democratic Party's 2016 nominee. Clinton's photo also appears on the cover of the book.

Nelson said consideration of adding Clinton's name to the series of granite blocks circling the Campfire Girls fountain at Hodges Park dates back to 2008.

"We talked about this nine years ago, when Hillary was running for president the first time," Nelson said. "We said, 'Maybe someday we'll devote this plaque to her.' "

There was also discussion among members about whether individuals must be deceased in order for their names to appear among the milestones, which include more than 30 prominent area events and residents dating back to the area's first settlers in the 1830s.

Kohler, a retired Maine South High School teacher who knew Clinton as a student, said she was the "only person we've talked about for that blank spot."

"If nothing else, the fact that she was a strong, [female] candidate for president says something," Kohler said. "She was the first in American history, and I think she deserves this."

Kohler pointed out that in Park Ridge, Clinton received more votes than Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. But he also acknowledged that there will likely be "objections" within the community if Clinton's name were to engraved.

Joan Mattingly, another committee member, indicated that leaving the last milestone blank is not necessarily a bad idea.

"I don't have a problem with an empty plaque," she said. "There are generations of Park Ridgeans yet to come, and one of them might be something equally awesome, if not more awesome. I think it's nice to have hope for the future."

Only committee member Warren Wade said he was not in favor of Kohler's motion to consider Clinton for the final milestone.

"She's become controversial," said Wade, mentioning that he is a Republican. "It's not the right time, and it may never come to be the right time, in my mind."

Clinton received recognition from Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 shortly after the November 2016 election when it was announced that the learning resource center at Field School, which Clinton attended in the 1950s and 1960s, would be renamed for her.

Clinton also appears on alumni walls of honor at Maine East and Maine South High Schools.

The granite milestones around the Campfire Girls fountain were completed in 2007. According to Park Ridge Park District spokeswoman Margaret Holler, the Heritage Committee raised money for the project, though the park district is in charge of the blocks' maintenance.

There is not a written agreement between the two entities, she said.

According to the city of Park Ridge website, the Heritage Committee is a volunteer group of members appointed by the mayor who are "dedicated to preserving the history of Park Ridge," in addition to education and spurring appreciation of the city's past.

jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @Jen_Tribune

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Park Ridge Heritage Committee not ready to include Hillary Clinton among park's 'milestones' - Chicago Tribune