Turn War Memorial into Veterans Park? Cape May Weighs Possibilities

CAPE MAY – Cape May City Council heard a proposal Jan. 16 to create a small Veterans Park at the site of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Columbia and Gurney streets. 
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee appointed by council urged the city to consider the concept. It cited the current under utilization of the monument area and the difficulties in gaining safe access to the space.
Committee member James Moffatt presented the idea. He noted the Y-shaped intersection at the site of the monument. It is a three-way intersection that surrounds the monument. That presents “confusion and a hazard to bicyclists and pedestrians,” he said.
The monument stands on a small triangle of land surrounded by street traffic.
Moffatt pointed to the lack of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curbs and the absence of crosswalks which make the area difficult to access.
The committee’s proposal is to close the one-way part of the Y-intersection and expand the grassy area to allow for a small park that could complement the monument and serve as “a distinguished memorial for all veterans.”
Moffatt added that the committee has already had a conversation with the Fund of Cape May about participation in the project. He said that the fund had a fundraiser scheduled for February and was excited enough by this proposal to suggest that the project should be the centerpiece of that event with all proceeds going to the effort.
The fund could participate in areas of landscaping, seating, and repair of the existing monument which all committee members present said was in need of refurbishment.
Moffatt also said that the committee had conversations lined up with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to gauge potential support.
While he could not put a price tag on the proposal, he did note that it would not be like many of the expense projects the city had undertaken recently. “I don’t know what it will cost,” he said, “but it will be reasonable.”
The committee acknowledged that its thinking about this area was influenced by an earlier report, Bike Walk Cape May. That report presented pictures and diagrams showing the difficulties presented to residents or visitors wanting to access the monument.
Later in the meeting, the council passed a resolution stating its intent “to enter into a public-private partnership with the Fund for Cape May to accomplish plans for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Park contingent upon receiving Open Space funding from Cape May County.”
The resolution also makes clear that the city has already applied for the county’s Open Space grant.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.