First Look at Permanent Healing Garden Memorial

Story By Justin Hopkins / LasVegasNow.com | Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.  (May 2, 2018)

The nonprofit group in charge of upkeep at the downtown Healing Garden will unveil new plans for a permanent memorial to 1October victims Wednesday.

The Healing Garden was created in days following the attack at the Route 91 Harvest Festival that killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more.

‘Get Outdoors Nevada’ is in charge of the permanent memorial project.  Organizers will present renderings to the Las Vegas city council and open a fundraising drive.  All of the designs were created by a local artist and SH Architecture firm in Las Vegas.

Designs call for remnants of the wooden slats currently in place.  The wall will be elevated, but sturdier, with steel frames and back lighting.

“This permanent wall is really a place where people come and place pictures and tokens,” said Jessica Anderson of ‘Get Outdoors Nevada.’ “We wanted to make sure we kept elements of that because if we took the wood away completely, it would totally change the concept of the wall. There will still be wood and still be places to hang things on the new wall.”

Anderson said her group has seen an outpouring of support from the community for the wall project.  They have already received a donation of $25,000 from the Jameson Family Trust, with the hope of raising $150,000.

‘Get Outdoors Nevada’ plans to begin construction soon, with the goal of completing the memorial by October 1, 2018.  They plan a concert and special ceremony to mark the first anniversary.