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The Milford Daily News, by Alison Bosma

New benches, brick work coming to Milford's Draper Park

February 04, 2021

MILFORD — Residents will be able to see long-planned renovations to Milford’s Draper Memorial Park this winter.

The park is one of two bookending Milford’s downtown, along with Calzone Park. Both are in need of repair to their war memorials and landscaping.

Over the summer, local organizations launched a grassroots fundraising campaign to tackle the work, the scope of which was outlined two years ago. Securing an agreement with MassDevelopment under which the state would give the project $42,500, if the town could raise that much on its own, for a total of $85,000.

The project exceeded its original local fundraising goal of $42,500 by close to $5,000, and Town Meeting voted to kick in another $45,000 in January.

“We could not have raised these substantial funds without the generosity of many Milford residents, businesses and organizations,” said War Memorial Revitalization Committee Chairman Peter Scandone, in a press release, and whose organization spearheaded the fundraising. “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.”

New brick work on all walkways and seating areas should be finished by the end of April, if the weather allows. New benches are also expected to appear in the park over the winter months.

Additional work planned includes new lighting and irrigation, and repairs to the large statue of General William Draper on a horse. Among other repairs needed, the general’s sword is broken.

Donations came from individuals as well as local businesses and civic organizations, according to the committee, and ranged from $10 to $1,000. In all, there were about 170 donors.