Milford Residents and Friends Invited to Contribute to Crowdfunding Campaign to Fund Repairs and Improvements to Draper Memorial Park. Donate Before 11:45 p.m. on October 15 to DOUBLE Your Donation with Matching Funds from MassDevelopment.
The Milford War Memorial Revitalization Committee (WMRC), an Ad Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen to assist the Parks Department in the repair and revitalization of Milford’s war memorial parks, is asking area citizens, organizations, and businesses to donate to the community rejuvenation of Draper Memorial Park. ALL donation amounts—no matter how small or large—will be matched dollar for dollar by MassDevelopment up to $42,500.
Donations made through this initiative will be used to transform Draper Park through repairs to the General Draper statue and brick pathways, as well as the installation of new lighting, landscaping, irrigation, seating, and historical signage. The landscaping work has already begun under the direction of Parks and Recreation Administrator James Asam. Additional construction is planned for completion before the end of the year.
WMRC Chairman Peter Scandone states, “We decided that Draper Park needed a total renovation—from the top of the trees right down below the ground to the irrigation system. We kindly ask for everyone in Milford to consider making a donation to help us restore and maintain Draper Park as a place of respect and pride for all future generations.”
Donations can be made easily online by visiting Patronicity.com/milford. Individuals or businesses who prefer to write a check can do so by writing it to “Town of Milford” and writing “Draper Park Revitalization” in the memo. Checks should be mailed to the Treasurer’s office at Milford Town Hall, 52 Main Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757.
All donations made to the Draper Park revitalization project are tax deductible. Donors are encouraged to submit matching gift forms with their employers as applicable.
Donors may choose to have their names listed on the Patronicity website or to remain anonymous. The deadline to submit your donation so that it is eligible for matching funds is 11:45 p.m. on October 15, 2020.
Large donations will be appropriately recognized at a future date.
GOT Questions?! We Have Answers
I want to donate to help revitalize Draper Park. Can I donate online?
Yes, click here to visit the Patronicity crowdsourcing site and click the SUPPORT button to donate by credit or debit card. This is a secure service.
Can I write a check instead of donating online?
Yes, please make checks payable to “Town of Milford” and be sure to write “Draper Park Revitalization” in the memo line of the check. Mail the check to the Treasurer’s office at Milford Town Hall, 52 Main Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757. You could also put your check in an envelope addressed to the Treasurer and deposit in the drop box outside Town Hall.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes, the Town of Milford is a tax-exempt government organization, Tax ID 046-001-224.
Am I able to get my donation matched by my employer?
Yes, if your employer offers a matching gift program, you may submit a matching gift form to your employer to have your donation matched. Both your personal donation and your employer’s donation are eligible to be matched by MassDevelopment.
When I donate online, I am asked to pay a processing fee.
What’s that?
Each donation is subject to a processing fee that varies according to the amount of the donation. You can select the option to not pay the fee. Important: If you choose to pay the fee, the full amount of your donation and your fee is tax deductible.
Can my donation be anonymous?
Yes, if you are donating online, you can select to either have your name listed on the website or not. If you choose to send a check, please include a note if you prefer for your donation to be anonymous.
When is the deadline to make a donation?
If you want the money you donate to be matched, please donate before 11:45 p.m. on October 15, 2020.
Is there a minimum donation amount?
No. We are eager to involve as many members of the community as possible in this important project. We understand times are tough. Please donate an amount that you are comfortable with. Thank you!
About Draper Memorial Park
Draper Memorial Park occupies a triangle of land in the downtown Milford area, located at the intersection of Congress Street and Main Street. The park features monuments that list the names of veterans who served, as well as those who gave their lives, during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The park also includes a listing of Milford veterans who served in the Gulf War.
Standing tall in the park is the equestrian statue of General William Franklin Draper. Sculptor Daniel Chester French created the statue in 1912 in collaboration with architect Henry Bacon, who designed the granite pedestal on which the statue stands, as well as the park landscape. French and Bacon partnered again on the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Other monuments in Draper Memorial Park include the Powers boulder, which features a memorial plaque for Sergeant John W. Powers (a Milford veteran killed in World War I), and the historic Milford milestone, dated 1773, which marked the distance from Milford to Boston.
The care and management of Draper Memorial Park falls under the authority of the Milford Parks Commission and Milford Veterans Services.
About the War Memorial Revitalization Committee
The War Memorial Revitalization Committee (WMRC) is an Ad Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Its two-fold mission is to assist the Parks Department in the repair and revitalization of Draper Memorial Park and Calzone Memorial Park and to establish an ongoing maintenance plan that ensures the continued longevity of the parks and their structures for generations to come.
About MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth. Through these collaborations we help create jobs, increase the number of housing units, revitalize urban environments, and address factors limiting economic growth including transportation, energy, and infrastructure deficiencies.