LOCATION: parkland, fA
SCOPE: COMPETITION
STATUS: COMPLETE

Parkland 17 memorial

The contemplative site is located in the North Springs Improvement District’s nature preserve and is cradled by a grove of trees that creates a sense of privacy of enclosure for the memorial and privacy and visual separation from the homes on the other side of the water. The sense of enclosure also balances some moments of unobstructed views of the nature preserve’s canal, which reflects the sky and provides beauty to the memorial. A universally accessible path provides the approach from the Welcome Center as the primary feature of the memorial- the petals- come into view. The path winds its way to the memorial precinct and brings visitors through two large, planted areas of low native plants, which act as a land bridge that marks the start of the arrival to the memorial. Continuing on the path beyond the planted land bridge, visitors have the option to move directly into the center of the space, or approach more slowly by circling the outer path first before entering.

Each petal is oriented towards the angle of the sun on February 14th with the tip highlighting a pin of light on the ground commemorating the time of the massacre. The petals occur in two heights; the 3 taller petals located towards the center of the bouquet represent the adult victims, and the 14 petals representing the students will surround them. The stem of each petal is engraved with the name of each victim and with a narrative to be provided by each family about who each victim was and who they could have become. When it rains, the top of each petal will collect and direct water down its stem to a base of smooth river stones and then back to the earth. This is also the place where flowers and offerings may be placed in remembrance and in honor of the victims. This is the place where all are welcome to mourn- especially families, friends, and residents of the Parkland and Coral Springs Communities.  At night, the petals are illuminated from below and become a constellation of stars.