CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

A Place to Rest, Reflect and Recall

January 31, 2012

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

The vision for a special place for families to remember their lost child(ren) became a reality on September 25, 2010 with the dedication of Waterfront Park and the Children’s Memorial Garden.

The Garden lies on property owned by F.I.N.D., the Florida Inland Navigation District.

Per a Lease Agreement signed in 2003 between the City of Palm Coast and F.I.N.D, an easement was secured for use of the identified site “…to provide benefits to the citizens of the City and others by providing passive recreation opportunities.”

The Agreement identifies a site plan for specific improvements approved by FIND that the City must follow.

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

Upon dedication of the Garden, management was assigned to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Guidelines and an Order Form were created and vetted through the Park Team.

Implementation of these Guidelines and Order Form began in January of 2011.

Since its inception placement of 33 memorial pavers and 8 memorial benches have been installed.

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

At the City Council Workshop of July 12, 2011, a request was made for the Guidelines and Order Form to be reviewed.

City Council asked that the Guidelines and Order Form be presented to the Leisure Services Advisory Committee for review and recommendation. After public comment was heard, the LSAC reviewed the Guidelines; removed a redundancy and motioned to approve the Guidelines and Order Form. A unanimous approval was made at their regular meeting of January 11, 2012.

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

During these, often emotional conversations, families responded with very strong reactions.

One family wrote via email, “This unnecessary debate and arguing…has resurfaced all of the emotions of grief and sorrow and forced us to relive these terrible emotions again. …it is just terrible to think a decision could be made to remove our daughter’s paver or change the wording from this beautiful, tranquil place.”

Two families, after realizing that they had more leeway with their inscription, contacted the Parks and Recreation Office to share their still fresh emotional experience of purchasing their Memorial Paver. These families incurred additional costs to have their memorial pavers removed and re-engraved with the initial vision they had of how they wanted to honor their lost child.

Both families were very thankful and extremely pleased with the outcome.

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

Guidelines and Order Form, approved by the Leisure Services Advisory Committee, to follow.

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN GUIDELINES

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN ORDER FORM

CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL GARDEN

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