Located in the southern part of Atlantic City, New Jersey, O’Donnell Memorial Park is dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives in the Second World War. Featuring numerous monuments as well as plenty of green space to cultivate activity of all types, the park has become a collective memorial that is also an essential part of the modern community.
Featuring the Soldier’s & Sailors Monument, the Greek Temple Monument and More
Originally a train-yard known as Chelsea Station Grounds of the West Jersey & Sea Shore Railroad, the first war memorial to be installed in what is now O’Donnell Memorial Park was the Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Monument. Erected in 1916 through donation funds, the monument was designed to welcome travelers arriving at the nearby terminus of the Black Horse Pike into the city. It is thematically connected to the Greek Temple Monument that honors the sacrifices made by Atlantic City Residents during World War I.
After World War II, trees were dedicated to each city resident who give their lives in World Wars I and II. In 1997, the trees themselves were removed with the Honor Roll replacing the trees in the park. They serve as a distinct way to as a way to individually commemorate the sacrifices citizens made during both World Wars, plus the Korean and Vietnam wars.
The site also holds the POW/MIA Monuments. Dedicated in 1989, the three monuments are the 87th Infantry Division Monument, the Southeast Asia Casualties Memorial, and the Purple Heart Memorial. However, war memorials are not the only landmarks that O’Donnell Park contains.
The park is an active part of the modern community, as can be seen with a set of Adirondack chairs created for the 2020 48 Blocks program. Local artists were hired to design and paint 11 chairs, highlighting how a collective memorial can also become and represent an active part of a modern community.
War Memorials and So Much More
Featuring a variety of memorials that are connected to wars and conflicts, O’Donnell Park could have easily become a location that was only of interest to veterans and other people directly impacted by the conflicts it honors. By honoring those individuals while still making an effort to connect with the people and community in the present, the park highlights what it can mean to cultivate interest and activity across a community that resonates on multiple levels.
