Recognized as a peaceful gathering place for local residents and visitors, Kalivas Park has become a hub of the Greek community in Manchester, New Hampshire. It now honors all Greek-Americans who answered the call of the United States to serve in the armed forces, highlighting what it can mean for a space to reflect a specific community but also become a landmark that attracts attention and activity from everyone.
Dedicated to the Memory of Christos Kalivas
Christos Kalivas was the first Greek-American from Manchester killed in World War I. One of his fellow combatants, Chris Agrafiotis, formed a committee of WWI veterans of Greek descent and worked tirelessly with city and federal officials to develop a fitting tribute to the sacrifice of Kalivas and all Greek-Americans from Manchester. Those efforts would see what was previously a generic urban greenspace dedicated in his name. A large memorial to him resides in the park, which mentions his sacrifice during World War I.
After being renamed from Park Common, Kalivas Park developed characteristics of a village “plateia” or town square on account of the surrounding Greek businesses and residences. This development is reflective of New Hampshire having one of the highest percentages in the United States of citizens of Greek descent.
At the rededication of Kalivas Park in 2002, an additional plaque that honors all Greek-Americans who answered the call of duty to their country was added. This marker along with the distinctive pillar monuments that welcome people into the park make the space engaging to audiences on multiple levels, enabling the park to host all sorts of Manchester events and activities.
Featuring numerous park benches, individual monuments and a central area where members of the community can congregate for a variety of activities has made Kalivas Park a destination for visitors and a place of congregation for residents. It highlights what it can mean for a space to become such a vital aspect of a community in the present and for the future.
Representing a Community
While Kalivas Park has come to represent the Greek community of Manchester in a very tangible way, it is also actively inviting to everyone. This connection to a specific community that is also open to residents and visitors highlights how monuments can positively shape and influence paces like parks to make them more than urban greenspaces. These sorts of features can enable engagement across entire communities, cities and eras.
