May 15, 2017, Anchorage, AK – Major improvements planned for the Victims for Justice Memorial at Hostetler Park are just about to begin. The Anchorage Rotary Club will host a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday, May 16 at noon.
After a year of planning, this summer the Anchorage Rotary Club will partner with Victims for Justice to turn the often overlooked Victims for Justice Memorial into a more accessible and inviting space for families and friends to mourn the loss of their loved ones, as well as find hope and healing. The current memorial hosts over 350 names of Alaskans who have died due to a violent crime. Through the years it has experienced damage and disrepair and no longer fulfills its role as a quiet place for remembrance, reflection, and respect. Improvements include replacing the memorial, installing an ADA-compliant walkway, increasing lighting, and landscaping.
Partial funding for the project comes from a $10,000 Anchorage Park Foundation Challenge Grant which was awarded earlier this month. Challenge Grants encourage community stewardship and partnership to make positive changes in Anchorage’s parks and trails. Recipients of the grant must match the funds with private donations, in-kind services, or volunteer hours.
“This park is truly a community effort, and a cornerstone to Downtown Anchorage. I see the restoration of this park as a way of restoring hope for the families who come to visit the memorial,” says Paula Bradison of the Anchorage Rotary Club.
Victims for Justice Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony
Tuesday May 16th, 12:00 PM
Hostetler Park
335 L St., Anchorage (where 3rd Ave becomes L St.)
