Chamber To Dedicate Memorial Park to Late Chamber Champions with a Ribbon Cutting
On Thursday, September 23rd at 5:30pm, the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce will dedicate the Chamber Memorial Park and invite the community to join.
The Park, built through a donation in 2019 by Art and Kathy Whitman, replaced a dilapidated Welcome Kiosk and overgrown garden in front and on the side of the Chamber of Commerce at 100 Veterans Memorial Drive in Bennington, Vermont. “Through the generous donation of a Chamber family - the Whitman's - we were able to revitalize this spot on the side of the Chamber building,” explains Matt Harrington, executive director of the Chamber. “As part of a revitalization of the Chamber including a new name and regional mission, the Park came along at the perfect time. We now see residents and travelers alike - both during and after the pandemic - come, sit in solace and enjoy the Park. Especially with social distancing in place, the Park was extremely helpful in giving our travelers a place to sit, eat lunch, breathe fresh Vermont air, look at a map and orient themselves to Bennington. Of course one of the highlights of the park is the large memorial on the east side of the small park dedicated to late friends and champions of this Chamber. The Park is an absolute treasure of the Chamber.”
The Park was designed by Wynn’s Landscape + Design Co with the assistance of Michael Baker, Architect. It features new grass outfront surrounding a maple tree and a split rail fence on the outer edge of the Chamber property. The Park itself is surrounded by flower beds and a half pergola fence on the north side which holds a large artistic art palette from the Chamber’s Bennington Pallette Festival in 2006. Within the Park is a circular patio and three marble benches. On the east side of the circular patio stands a 6 and ¼ foot marble memorial. On that memorial are the names of Chamber Champions who have passed including Gay Every-Baker, former Chamber Board President Tom Bluto, former Chamber Board President Lindy Lynch and former Chamber Executive Director Mike Williams.
Harrington adds, “Just about every day when the temperature warms up we see local employees, travelers, families and friends come to the park. On the weekends, the Park is utilized by the Bennington Farmers’ Market patrons and others. I think it's a hidden gem and once you know it exists it's a great quiet spot to have a business lunch or catch up with an old friend. The gathering of people, conversations and dialogue, meeting new people - all of this embodies the Chamber’s recent motto of, 'Stronger Together.' This Park is a symbol of that!”
After the park was built the Bennington Lions Club and the Bennington Rotary donated sitting picnic tables, four in all, to encourage sitting and enjoyment of the Park. Additionally, the Chamber set up a fund through the Town of Bennington to keep the Park well kept. For those interested in making a taxable contribution to the Park’s maintenance, please make a check out to the Town of Bennington with a clear designation on the memo line: Bennington Memorial Park. The town will do taxable deduction letters to the name and address on each check. Please be sure to provide your name and address if there are any cash donations. Donations can be mailed to the Town of Bennington at PO Box 469, Bennington, Vermont 05201 or dropped off to the Collections Dept in person.
The Chamber invites the community to join them on the 23rd where there will be a dedication and ribbon cutting for the Park. The Chamber staff, board of directors, members and families of those Chamber Champions on the memorial will be present, along with a few dignitaries. Light food and refreshments will be available and networking afterwards is encouraged. The ceremony and gathering will conclude at 7pm. To RSVP email matt@swvtchamber.com.