Memorial Park is home to miles of multi-use trails, a scenic picnic loop and historical memorials. The Park also features a lively playground and an indoor sports facility.
After more than 50 years exposed to the elements, Memorial Park’s original six-panel Walls of Remembrance were in need of repair. 1100 Architect designed an accessible, non-denominational sanctuary to provide family members a place to grieve and remember.
History
Unlike traditional cemeteries, which are usually maintained by the local government, memorial parks are more appealing to the eye as they are managed by private institutions. This allows for a more thorough and meticulous planning process to be implemented. This gives the graves a very dignified and pleasing look.
The park commemorates the men and women from Allen County who served in World War I, a brutal conflict that ended on November 29, 1918. The beautiful park features several beautifully sculpted monuments that honor the veterans who died in the war and a beautiful field.
Visitors can also enjoy a relaxing walk around the beautiful gardens and lush green lawns. The park is also home to one of this city’s most popular pavilions that has a capacity of 450 people. In addition, it has two large barbecue grills and a spacious kitchen facility for food preparation or serving. This pavilion also has a parking area that can hold up to 225 cars.
Memorial Walls
A memorial wall commemorates those who died in a tragic event, such as war or natural disaster. It is often placed in a public space and is meant to bring communities together. Besides being a place where people remember the lost, it also serves as a source of education and brings to mind the importance of taking care of nature.
The Memorial Park is home to two memorial walls that honor the local men and women who died in service of their country. Each wall contains 74 panels, with four on each end without names. The list of names begins with 1959 inscribed on Panel 1 East (1E) and continues to the bottom of Panel 70 West (70W).
The walls also include a statue of servicemen who are standing guard, connecting the past and present. Visitors can see their reflections in the engraved names and therefore connect with the dead. The park is open to anyone who wishes to visit the memorial.
Gold Star Monument
The Gold Star Monument at memorial park is dedicated to the families of loved ones who have died while in military service. It is a beautiful black granite monument that features a section cut out of the middle in the shape of a soldier standing at salute and four panels on both sides that tell a story about each community’s Gold Star Families and their fallen loved ones.
The memorial was designed by Hershel “Woody” Williams, a Medal of Honor recipient and founder of the foundation that promotes these monuments across the country. He believes that the memorials offer a place of permanence for families to call their own and demonstrates that their community cares about them, appreciates their sacrifice and honors the legacy of their Loved Ones.
The memorial is located in Mantorville, directly next to the Government Services Building. When visiting this location, please be respectful to the memory of those that are buried here and keep your motorcycle and rally flag parked in designated parking.
Vietnam War Monument
As the most popular monument in the park, visitors often come here seeking the engraved name of a loved one lost in the war. Some leave flowers, poems and photographs. The Wall, a revolutionary minimalist design, consists of two identical walls that stretch 246 feet and 9 inches and hold the names of 58,000 service members killed in the war, with their years of casualty inscribed on them from the start to the finish.
Each panel begins with 1959 and ends with 1975 (the year of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, which ended direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam). The names are grouped into 74 panels and numbered consecutively from left to right.
During a visit, visitors can see their reflections in the etched names, which connect past and present in a way that few other memorials can. The 159 men and women from Hillsborough County who gave the ultimate sacrifice are included in the Wall.