Community Corner
After Months of Design, Town Appears Ready to Inch Forward with Veterans Memorial Park
Design studies have been completed and with a bridge to connect each of the two phases, officials are hopeful the project will serve as a proper tribute to veterans and destination for area residents.
It’s been more than two years since the town completed Phase I of Veterans Memorial Park and after a design study that took nearly six months to complete, it appears they are finally ready to move forward with the second phase.
Members of the Berlin Town Council this week approved a motion accepting plans for the second phase of the park, located on the newly named “Veterans Way” that runs from Farmington Ave to Massirio Drive, adjacent to the Stop and Shop supermarket.
“To better make a connection in the community, we have a picnic shelter for about six tables that are already over there,” Berlin Economic Development Director Jim Mahoney said. “There will be signage, recommended by the veterans commission, to commemorate each of the 12 wars that this country has fought. These are fiberglass type of signs where people will be able to gather additional information about wars, conflicts and histories.”
The new designs, approved by the council, will still need to go through flood management from the state and town, as well as developing the borings for a bridge that is designed to connect the two phases.
See the complete designs attached above.
Adam Salina, in one of his last acts as Mayor, said he was happy to see the bridge included as it will provide continuity in the park and connect the two phases in an aesthetically pleasing manor. Work on the park could begin sometime next year.
The first phase of the park was initially completed in 2011 with a celebration that June. Phase I included a circle of five new granite monuments. Each monument bears the insignia of a branch of the military services – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force and each monument has a flagpole with the flag of the same military service flying above it.
The American Flag flies in the middle of the circle of flags.
“This is something that could have great benefit for the community in the long run,” Mahoney said.
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