Draper Memorial Park Revitalization Will Begin This Winter

MILFORD, MA — Milford residents can expect to see renovation work begin this winter at Draper Memorial Park, which was the subject of a community-wide fundraising effort in 2020.

Draper, which is Milford's main war memorial, will get new benches and walkways this winter, and work could be complete before April 30 depending on weather. The Gen. William Franklin Draper statue, which was made by the sculptor who created the Lincoln Memorial, will also be rehabbed.

In 2020, the War Memorial Revitalization Committee collected over $47,000 from 170 local donors. The state Development Finance Agency matched those donations up to $42,500 for a total close to $90,000. On Jan. 6, Town Meeting appropriated an additional $45,000.

"We could not have raised these substantial funds without the generosity of many Milford residents, businesses, and organizations," War Memorial Revitalization Committee Chair Chairman Peter Scandone said in a statement. "We extend our sincerest gratitude to all our donors, as well as to MassDevelopment for providing the matching funds to help us realize our dream of a fully renovated and revitalized Draper Memorial Park."

The town will hold a re-dedication ceremony at a future date. Draper Memorial Park features monuments to veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War.

Some local donors to the revitalization effort include:

• American Legion Sgt. John W. Powers Post 59
• American Legion Auxiliary Sgt. John W. Powers Unit 59
• Celebrate Milford
• Citizens for Milford (in memory of Steven J. Trettel),
• Lawrence J. Heron Chapter 6 of Disabled American Veterans
• Greenleaf Garden Club
• Hopedale Foundation
• Milford Junior Woman’s Club
• Milford Lions Club (in memory of David Ferreira)
• Afonso Real Estate
• Bella Caprice Salon
• Buma Sargeant Funeral Home Inc
• Ciccone Plumbing
• Consigli Construction
• Dewey Pest and Wildlife
• Edwards Memorial Funeral Home
• Emerald Irrigation
• Milford Federal Bank
• Rockland Trust
• Watson Colonial Funeral Home