> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://pembrokecitizenjournal.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Veterans Memorial Park Project Clears a Hurdle - URL: https://pembrokecitizenjournal.com/community/publish-veterans-memorial-park-project-clears-a-hurdle/ - Published: 2026-10-30T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-31T03:44:34.000Z - Description: The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously Oct. 19 to allow the park's amphitheater to sit 12.5 feet from the road instead of the required 15 feet, after the working group said the site couldn't be moved. - Author: Mike Corkren - Tags: Community, Town Hall, Land Use, #editorial-hub-publish On Oct. 19, the Pembroke Zoning Board of Appeals approved a zoning variance submitted by the Veterans Memorial Park Revitalization Working Group which allows the project to proceed. Chris Perry, a member of the Veterans Memorial Park Revitalization Working Group, went before the board to advocate for a zoning variance. ![Chris Perry, a member of the Veteran's Memorial Park Revitalization Working Group speaks before the Pembroke Zoning Appeals Board. Photo from Zoning Board of Appeals video, Oct.19, 2026.](https://cdn.synaps.media/pembrokenews/content/images/2026/10/Perry1.JPG) Chris Perry, a member of the Veteran's Memorial Park Revitalization Working Group speaks before the Pembroke Zoning Appeals Board. Photo from Zoning Board of Appeals video, Oct.19, 2026. At issue was the design of the amphitheater, which will be located at the corner of Oldham and Center streets. The design placed the amphitheater 12.5 feet set back from the road where the zoning called for a 15-foot setback. The amphitheater and building will be 25x30 feet with an accessible ramp on the right side to gain access to the stage area. The building’s size is set to accommodate a number of solar panels and batteries that will be used to run the new irrigation system pumps and the new memorial lighting. The zoning board, consisting of Frederick Casavant, David Lee and Ryan MacDonald, at first asked if the location of the building could be moved the necessary 30 inches to accommodate the zoning regulation. Perry said moving the building wasn’t possible because the park is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Per ADA regulations, the pitch of the grade would be too steep if the building was moved forward. ![Pembroke Zoning Appeals Board. From Left to right, David Lee, Fredrick Casavant and Ryan MacDonald. Photo from Zoning Board of Appeals video, Oct.19, 2026.](https://cdn.synaps.media/pembrokenews/content/images/2026/10/zoning-board.JPG) Pembroke Zoning Appeals Board. From Left to right, David Lee, Fredrick Casavant and Ryan MacDonald. Photo from Zoning Board of Appeals video, Oct.19, 2026. After reviewing the documentation and hearing from Perry, the board voted unanimously to approve the variance. Veterans Memorial Park, when completed, will feature stamped concrete pathways, irrigation for the lawn and an amphitheater. Current monuments will be cleaned and sealed and new tributes to Pembroke's vets will be installed. The amphitheater will be a place for celebrations and functions and will be shared with First Church. In addition to the zoning board approval, the Veterans Memorial Park Revitalization Working Group recently received word the name of the park had officially been approved. The official name is now Veterans Memorial Park at the Town Common. The group will be communicating with Massachusetts Historical Commission to have the park registered as a historical park. Organizer say that getting the park registered with the commonwealth and then on the federal level will open up greater access to funding for the park. For now, with the zoning issue solved, the project can move forward. For more information about the Veterans Memorial Park project you can read the Pembroke Citizen Journal story published on July 10, 2026, here: --- **Editor's Note:** This article was first published on Oct. 30, 2026\. It was updated on Oct. 30, 2026 to correct the official name of the park.