Mahwah Opens Veterans Memorial Park

Just before noon on Memorial Day, a special ribbon cutting ceremony was held welcoming residents to the new Veterans Memorial Park on Ramapo Road by Franklin Turnpike. The ceremony was held amongst the Memorial Day festivities as members of the community, veterans and town first responders marched in a parade from Island Road and concluded at the end of Ramapo Road.

While much of the park is without grass and covered with patches of dirt and hay, the park is expected to see grass continue to grow in the months to come.

“It’s not perfect, but it is an extraordinary project,” said Mayor John DaPuzzo.

The mayor credited Councilwoman Lisa DiGiulio with spearheading the project and said it took eight years to complete.

DiGiulio said she was honored to be a part of the park, but believed that it was a team effort and thanked Mahwah’s Beautification Committee as well as the town’s Department of Public Works.

“Really, without the DPW we would not be able to have held a ceremony here,” said DiGiulio.

During the members of the town council, Mahwah Police PBA #143, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Saddle River Valley Lions Club and the Mahwah Elks each placed wreaths honoring the veterans. DiGiulio said that the park was designed for occasions such as that.  

After the ceremony, DiGiulio said that the late would have been pleased to have seen the park opened.

“He was a big part of this,” said DiGiulio. “He was very supportive and encouraged us as forward.”

When asked how she persevered over the eight years, she admitted it had not been easy.

“We had gone through four concepts and we finally settled on this,” she said. “But we pressed on. We worked hard to make a park that is not only a place for veterans to come and meditate, but make this something the town would appreciate.”

She added one of her sources of pride is that park was designed to grow.

“Should future residents wish to put up a memorial for each different war, there is room to expand,” she said. “That was one of our goals as we completed the project.”

She said many persons and groups contributed to the effort and not one person could take the credit for it.

“I am just so proud of how this turned out,” she said. “I am proud to have been a part of this project.”