Community Corner

Photos: Reborn Veterans Park In Framingham Opens On Veterans Day

Hundreds attended the opening of the Concord Street park, which volunteers worked to revitalize in just nine months.

Neal McNamara's profile picture
Neal McNamara, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
|
Framingham Veterans Council member Nick Paganella saluting during a dedication of the city's refurbished Veterans Park on Thursday.
Framingham Veterans Council member Nick Paganella saluting during a dedication of the city's refurbished Veterans Park on Thursday. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A large crowd turned out on Veterans Day in Framingham to see the revitalized Veterans Park. The Concord Street facility was renovated in just nine months thanks to long hours put in by volunteers who raised thousands of dollars and donated their own labor.

The ceremony kicked off near 11 a.m. on Thursday with the Framingham police color guard and the Pledge of Allegiance read by the Framingham Junior Girl Scouts Troop 82355. A Framingham ladder truck parked near the main entrance flanked the audience with a giant American flag.

The park was built 68 years ago to honor service members from the area, but hasn't been updated since the 1980s. Parks and Recreation Director James Snyder said police Lt. Robert Downing challenged him to get the park rebuilt in nine months — just in time for Veterans Day.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"We had no funding, no plan," Snyder said. "But we had a drive to make this heppen for our veterans."

A firing squad kicked off the Veterans Day ceremony in Framingham on Nov. 11. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Elected officials including Senate President Karen Spilka, Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Framingham City Councilors attended Thursday's event. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Framingham Junior Girl Scouts Troop 82355 read the Pledge of Allegiance. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
The Framingham police honor guard stood watch over the ceremony. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Framingham Veterans Council member William Blumsack speaks during a dedication of the city's refurbished Veterans Park on Thursday. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
A Framingham High School student sang The National Anthem. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Service members stood at attention during The National Anthem. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Many veterans attended Thursday's ceremony. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
The refurbished memorial park includes paving stones honoring service members. Framingham Assistant Fire Chief John Schultz helped with the masonry. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
A new mosaic at the center of the new Veterans Park. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
The granite war memorial at the heart of the park turned 68 years old in 2021. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
The statue at the top of the war memorial at Veterans Park. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer (r) presented Framingham police Lt. Robert Downing with a citation for spearheading the park renewal effort. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Framingham police Chief Lester Baker, who deferred credit for the park to Downing, saying "I have no business being up here." (Neal McNamara/Patch)
Students from Framingham High School and Keefe Tech read poems for veterans to close out the ceremony. (Neal McNamara/Patch)
The park is so new, the grass had not grown in yet. Spectators crowded walkways in the park to attend the ceremony. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

Find out what's happening in Framinghamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Framingham