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Date: 2/14/2023
CHICOPEE — City leaders, members of the state delegation, veteran organizations and local residents celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Western Massachusetts Post 9/11 and Service Dog Memorial Park on Feb. 11 at 1974 Westover Rd. The park, which is expected to be constructed in a year, is intended as a unique space for recreation and reflection in Chicopee.
Background
Before the park’s groundbreaking ceremony, city leaders spent years planning its development. Mayor John Vieau, Planning Director Lee Pouliot and Veterans Services Director Stephanie Shaw spoke to Reminder Publishing for a February 2022 story on its extensive history.
Shaw shared that the project was originally initiated by the veteran services office nearly a decade ago. After two years of grassroots funding efforts, Shaw said the memorial park was ultimately derailed.
Once Shaw joined as the director in the summer of 2017, former mayor Richard Kos enlisted her department to revive the park proposal.
“I looked at the space and the previous committee’s proposals and plans. I asked them to get together again. We brainstormed and came up with this direction,” said Shaw. Due to the project’s magnitude, Shaw reached out to the city’s Planning and Parks and Recreation Departments to collaborate on planning the project.
“We started collaborating in 2018 about the possibilities of that space and working together to design, fund it and find the support for it,” said Shaw.
Pouliot said he considers the project one of his favorite endeavors since entering the department in the late 2000s. He expressed that the memorial park defies traditional definition it in its multi-purpose design.
“Instead of having a traditional memorial, this project represents an experience and a space to celebrate service in the post-9/11 area. It’s a space to reflect and a space to celebrate, which I think is very unique,” said Pouliot, who shared that the project will be the first park space in the Ward 1 area and the city’s first dog park.
Pouliot said the planning of the park’s space came with its own set of challenges. The existing topography brings different levels of elevation, while the property presented existing forestry and trails from other uses, according to Pouliot.
“It became very important to the team that we use the topography to our advantage and that we use the maximum number of existing trees as possible,” said Pouliot.
Pouliot explained the park’s innovative design will allow attendees to reflect on military service in an experiential manor. The dog park area will be featured on the lower elevation levels to mitigate noise, allowing the park’s memorial aspects to be appreciated with proper reflection.
Vieau expects the memorial park to become a central attraction in Chicopee. He stressed that the area would serve as an important education tool, allowing for Generation Z youths to learn about post 9/11 conflicts that they were previously not aware of.
“It’s really unique and different from anything we’ve traditionally seen. I expect there to be field trips and kids coming from all over,” said Vieau.
Shaw shared the only other post-9/11 park in the state is located in Boston, which inspired her and the Veteran Service Department to include a park in Western Mass. She hopes that space allows veterans and their families to celebrate their service.
“I really hope generationally we can experience that celebratory nature. So often, there is a mourning and a feeling of loss when it comes to service…That isn’t everyone’s story, so I think this park creates a unique perspective of all of the good and positives [from service],” said Shaw.
The park is projected to cost $2.4 million. Funding derives from various grants and federal sources, including $1.3 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies. The property was originally owned by Westover and given to the city roughly 40 years ago.
Groundbreaking ceremony
Vieau welcomed state Sens. Jacob Oliveira and John Velis, state Rep. Shirley Arriaga, various city councilors and School Committee members and the veteran community for the groundbreaking ceremony.
The mayor spoke about the park’s significance in “representing the ultimate sacrifice” of Post 9/11 service and other veterans.
“This project started as a vision to convey the meaning and pride of serving our country … This park will be a special place for both Chicopee and the region. It will be educational, relaxing, energizing and reflection. Our community will enjoy this park years beyond us,” said Vieau.
Shaw discussed her vision for wanting to construct the park space as a unique fixture. She also highlighted the groundbreaking ceremony as a culmination of a decade worth of planning.
“I felt we could do more than a monument. We could do more than dedicate a building … We’re here today to say that a decade worth of conversation, effort and fighting is coming to fruition,” said Shaw.
Pouliot said the project began with a “napkin sketch” by Shaw of an ambitious and experiential park space. He considered the collaboration that led to the park’s development to be “special.” Along with the involvement of city entities, the park was designed by SLR International and will be constructed by H.M. Nunes & Sons Construction.
“It speaks to one of our strengths here in the city of Chicopee. We can often come together, even though we have our various different backgrounds and focus areas, and do projects like this … I am really excited for what this does for our veteran community,” said Pouliot.
Before being elected to the state delegation, Arriaga and Velis both served in post-9/11 conflicts. Arriaga spotlighted the how the park will be an important symbol for Chicopee’s veteran community of roughly 4,500 people.
“I am a very strong supporter of the veteran community, and I couldn’t be happier for this … This is a way to attribute compliments to our service members – to thank them for their service and selflessness,” said Arriaga.
Velis discussed how less than .5 percent of people in the United States serve in the military. He recognized Chicopee as a community that emphasizes the contributions of military veterans
“Chicopee gets the sacrifice. There are so many veterans in Chicopee, but Chicopee is as patriotic as they get … What do we do as a community to honor that sacrifice? I would say this is a phenomenal start,” said Velis.
Oliveira spoke on how 9/11 defined his experiences growing up. He shared his vision for the park becoming an informative tool for youths to gain an understanding of the era’s significance.
“This is a park that will be a destination for school children to come to, to visit, to pay tribute [and] to learn about the history that is recent to us, but for them, is something from the past,” said Oliveira.
The ceremony was concluded with a groundbreaking of the park space.