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| Photo via Beach Haven Library People gather at Veterans Park on July 4, 1946 to honor those who fought in World War II. |
The significance of a park name can have a lasting impression on a community that is rich in history, especially when a clear title does not technically exist. Looking over Beach Haven borough’s resolution and ordinance books dating back to the incorporation of the town in 1890, borough officials found that no name for the park located between Amber Street and Engleside Avenue was ever formally adopted by local government.
“There were ceremonies at the park over the years naming it certain things,” said Sherry Mason, borough clerk. “There were plaques put there. They had festivities there for the Bicentennial, and they created a Bicentennial Committee. But the name of the park was never adopted by ordinance, or resolution, or proclamation. So it kind of has never been formally named. Back then people just thought, ‘If we have a celebration, and we invite the mayor, and we have a big party, and it goes in the paper, then it’s official.’ But there was no act of the governing body naming that.”
Since the lot used to house the Engleside Hotel, which was built in 1876 and then demolished in 1943 after owing the town $15,000 in back taxes, many year-round residents originally referred to it as the Engleside lot. After World War II in the late 1940s, Beach Haven Mayor Lester Parker honored returning veterans when, as a tribute to their service, the park was recognized as Veterans Park, said Jeanette Lloyd, town historian.
“It was a big event where not only local officials attended, but also county and some state representatives,” Lloyd said.
When the town’s Bicentennial Committee was formed to plan a celebration for the United States Bicentennial in 1976, members created an activity center on the western portion of the grounds, which they dedicated as Veterans Bicentennial Park in May of that year, said Charles Moffett, who chaired the committee.
The entire park was rededicated that year in November, and a monument marked “Veterans Park” was installed on the premises.
“It became really a park within a park,” Moffett said.
The “Bicentennial” name remained for the next 25 years as the committee, which became the Beach Haven Bicentennial Park Association, continued to support park events and improvements before turning it over to the Beach Haven Community Arts Program, Moffett noted.
About two years ago, however, borough officials began to refer to the location as Veterans Memorial Park.
“We thought it was a more timeless and fitting name to call it Veterans Memorial Park,” said Mason. “We never changed anything because it’s never been named anything.”
Moffett, who was president of the now inactive BPA, believes the “Bicentennial” name should remain. In 2014 he went before the council to urge officials to keep the title.
“I just think that’s not right, and they’re denying the existence of the previous Bicentennial effort and the fact that the park was created to be a lasting reminder of the Bicentennial,” he said, noting a billboard recognizing the area as Veterans Bicentennial Park was never replaced after it was destroyed in a storm.
Lloyd, who believes the park should be known as Veterans Memorial Park “to honor not only the soldiers who sacrificed their lives but also to all those who have served,” said 1976 was simply a year to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
“It is important, but Bicentennial was only a date in time whereas veterans are dedicated individuals who have sacrificed for us. There will always be soldiers to be recognized,” she stated.
Although there are no plans to name the park officially, Mason said, “Another governing body after us could change it to something else.
“We didn’t feel that’s necessary. It is what it is,” she stated.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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