As part of the township’s plans to rebrand itself, Fasola Park is expected to be renamed Deptford Memorial Park in the near future.
Council plans to make the official decision on renaming the township’s main park with a resolution, though an exact date has yet to be determined.
“We’re nearing the culmination of a process that has been taking place for years,” said Mayor Paul Medany.
Memorial Park will earn its name when it eventually becomes a place to memorialize township heroes in a way that Medany hopes “lasts forever.” They will likely include police officers, firefighters, EMTs and outstanding citizens who have contributed greatly to the community.
Fasola Park was initially named for former councilman Chuck Fasola, and it contains a circle dedicated to the township’s first responders, past and present.
“We eventually landed on the name Memorial Park as a way to recapture these people, since we want it to last forever,” Medany explained. “We want to capture all of them in the park, and we’re going to expand our memorials in the park.
“The name is meant to honor all citizens that helped Deptford in their own way,” he added. “It’s going to take a lot of time and money, but we want to be sure to make it right. The name fits with what we’re trying to do with the park.”
New to the park will be an area that lists all those who have served on council since the 1940s. The first responders’ section will also be expanded to include the names of those who have served in emergency-service roles, among them fallen Deptford officer Robert Shisler.
The park itself has major significance to the township since Deptford lacks a proper downtown area, so it serves as the hub for community events and also has tennis courts, a playground and picnic tables.
Despite the name change, Fasola the person will still be honored in the township’s own way.
“We’re not renaming the park as a way to discredit Chuck,” Medany noted. “We will honor what he did for Deptford in our own way.”
