June 15, 2017 By Christian Murray
Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer announced yesterday that $750,000 is going to be spent on revitalizing Doughboy Park that will go toward resurfacing the plaza and renovating the statue and memorials.
“Doughboy Park is a sacred place in the heart of Woodside to honor the sacrifice of our brave service men and women who fought on the front lines of war to protect our freedom,” said Jimmy Van Bramer, who made the announcement with veterans at the park yesterday.
The 1.71 acre park was established in 1923 and includes the “Doughboy” monument that commemorates those who served in World War I. Other monuments have been added since. A stone panel was installed in 2001 listing the names of the eleven major WW1 campaigns in which Americans fought, and then in 2006 a Sept. 11 memorial plaque was added dedicated to the 34 people who died in the attacks from Woodside.
The Doughboy statue was last restored in 1990 and the plaza surrounding the statue was last renovated in 2001. A Doughboy is an informal term for an American infantryman, particularly those who fought in the trenches during WW1.
The new funds will be used to resurface the area with new slate, paint the walls, add plantings, replace the benches, revamp the flagpole and upgrade the monuments.
Van Bramer said he expects the overhaul to be finished in about two years.
