Martinsburg Veterans Memorial Park | Martinsburg

War Memorial Park, also known locally as Veterans Memorial Park, is one of Martinsburg’s most beloved public spaces-a community cornerstone that blends leisure, remembrance, and local history. Set on nearly twenty acres along North Tennessee Avenue, it’s the kind of park that feels both open and personal, with the hum of activity during summer weekends and the quiet dignity of memorial grounds throughout the year.

History and Character

The park was established in the late 1940s, conceived as a living memorial to honor the men and women from Berkeley County who served in the armed forces. Its founding came from a wave of postwar civic energy, when towns across America began building spaces that celebrated both community life and remembrance. In 1988, ownership passed to the City of Martinsburg, and the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Board took over daily management. Even today, a local volunteer group-known as the War Memorial Park Association-continues to support maintenance and improvement projects, keeping alive the park’s original spirit of community service.

Grounds and Facilities

The park’s layout is both practical and inviting. Its open lawns roll gently between clusters of old trees-sycamores, oaks, and the occasional maple-providing generous shade through the summer. There’s a swimming pool complex at the center, with a gradual zero-depth entry leading to a deep end over eight feet. Families often cluster here in July, the sound of splashing water carrying toward the nearby tennis courts and picnic pavilions.

Six pavilions are scattered throughout the grounds-each named and slightly different in size and setting. The Main Pavilion, near the central lawn, often hosts community events, while smaller shelters like the Hollow or McKee Pavilion are tucked among the trees, ideal for quieter gatherings. Between them lie four distinct playgrounds, each with modern climbing structures, colorful slides, and sunshades that soften the midday light. The newer playground area, added recently, has become a favorite for children and grandparents alike.

Sporting areas give the park a lively rhythm. Two full-sized tennis courts double as pickleball courts, while a pair of sand volleyball courts sit nearby, often used for local league play in the evenings. A lighted miniature golf course-eighteen holes in total-adds a touch of nostalgia, with low wooden rails, small bridges, and simple landscaping. Around the park’s edges, paved paths make for easy walking or jogging, especially during the cool of early morning.

Memorials and Monuments

At the heart of the park’s identity stands the “Doughboy” statue-a bronze figure of a World War I soldier in mid-stride, rifle in hand, his face lifted with quiet determination. This monument, rededicated after restoration, bears the names of local men who served in the Great War, including forty-one who gave their lives. It anchors the park’s purpose, reminding every visitor that recreation here exists alongside remembrance. On Veterans Day and Memorial Day, ceremonies are held at the statue’s base, the air marked by the sound of bugles and the flutter of flags against the trees.

Events and Community Life

War Memorial Park is not only a place of reflection but also a lively hub of Martinsburg’s social calendar. Throughout summer, the amphitheater’s covered stage fills with concerts, community plays, and outdoor movie nights. Families gather on blankets, children chase fireflies near the edges of the crowd, and food vendors line the walkways with the scent of popcorn and grilled hot dogs. Local fairs, art days, and charity events are common, especially during warmer months.

The park is open from dawn to dusk, and on any given afternoon you might see joggers looping the paths, seniors reading under the trees, or children riding bicycles between the pavilions. Its design balances open recreational use with spots of quiet-places where the hum of town life fades behind the rustle of leaves and the distant laughter from the pool.

Atmosphere and Experience

Visiting War Memorial Park feels like stepping into the center of Martinsburg’s civic heart. There’s a mix of energy and stillness: the splash from the pool, the thud of a volleyball serve, the faint echo of a child’s shout-all framed by the park’s underlying reverence for the past. It’s well-maintained, clean, and safe, with well-marked walkways, benches, and ample parking.

The air here often carries the scent of grass and water in summer, and in autumn the trees turn the park into a patchwork of gold and crimson. It’s the kind of place where generations overlap-grandparents remembering parades from decades ago, young couples picnicking under the same old trees, children laughing where veterans once marched.

Overall Impression

War Memorial Park embodies the small-town balance of play and pride. It stands as both playground and monument, its purpose evolving with Martinsburg’s people but never losing its respect for the stories carved into its foundations. Whether one visits for a swim, a concert, or a moment of quiet reflection beside the Doughboy statue, the park offers a timeless sense of belonging and continuity-an open green reminder of community, service, and shared memory.