The Santa Clarita City Council is set to discuss the Central Park Memorial project for the victims of the Saugus High School shooting at their meeting Tuesday.
Councilmembers are expected to review and consider a conceptual design for a project at Central Park, developed to memorialize the victims of the Nov. 14, 2019, Saugus High School shooting.
At the Aug. 25, 2020, City Council meeting, Councilwoman Marsha McLean was appointed to work with City staff and the victims’ families to identify a proposed location and design for a physical memorial.
At that same meeting, the City Council approved the addition of the names of 15-year-old Gracie Muehlberger and 14-year-old Dominic Blackwell to the entrance signage at Central Park, contingent on Santa Clarita Valley Water agency approval, as the utility provider owns the land in which Central Park was established.
See Related: SCV Water Votes To Approve Dedication Of Central Park In Honor Of Saugus Shooting Victims
The City Council can review the current status of the project, provide direction to City staff, and/or approve the proposed conceptual plan for the Saugus High School Shooting Memorial planned to be installed at Central Park, according to the meeting agenda.
The proposal includes two 11-foot obelisks—with murals on each side made from tiny mosaic tiles—to memorialize the two victims of the event, surrounded by seating areas to observe the memorials and space for intimate reflection, shaded by existing tree canopies, officials said.
“If approved, the families have agreed to pay for the design, construction, and installation of the obelisks, while the City would be responsible for the surrounding site construction,” reads the agenda.
In addition, the City Council is advised by City staff to authorize a transfer of $40,000 from a contingency account to an account reserved for Central Park Memorial Plaza project funds.
The expected total cost for grading, electrical, irrigation, landscape and hardscape is $96,063, according to an assessment completed on behalf of the City. According to the agenda, various local agencies and private businesses have also offered pro bono work or even contributions to assist in the completion of the memorial project alongside work that can be done by City staff.
The 6:00 p.m. City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, will be available via livestream or at the City Facebook page.
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Brace yourself for all the comments from those that think the tragedy of a school shooting and the lose of two students should not be properly respected.
I’m sure something tasteful and meaningful can be agreed upon that won’t get in the way of enjoying the beautiful park and all it has to offer. I look forward to seeing the sign one day.
Brace yourself for only seeing one side of the coin without considering the other and brandishing your own opinion as superior.
what’s the other side of the coin? just forget about it?
That was an awesome unimpeded roundhouse kick to the face reply….
so I thought it was agreed that the names of the kids would be added to the sign not a plaza for them. I am glad that they will be remembered but come on, the school district is getting sued now as if they had anything to do with the shooting and they want the city to build a plaza for them. There is so many children killed by drunk drivers and we do not build a plaza for all of them. We do have a place at Central Park already for all of the children killed. Why not keep them all on a level playing field. It is tragic for all of the families equally. I for one do not want to drive by the park and relive the sadness our community endured with this and all other tragic events . The place to put the plaza is at Saugus High
Didn’t faze me.
Let the process continue. I’m sure an agreeable memorial can be established.
Moral of story. The squeaky wheel gets the most attention. These parents have been whining on this site for a year now. They finally got their way. Too many tragedies but none is worse than all the others!