KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The families of Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell, who lost their lives in the 2019 Saugus High shooting, have created a petition to dedicate Central Park in memory of their children.
Their desire is to ensure that nobody ever forgets their children’s impact on this community and to have the City Council vote and approve the dedication of the park from its current name of “Central Park” to “Central Park – In Memoriam of Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell.”
On Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, 14-year-old Dominic Blackwell and 15-year-old Gracie Muehlberger were shot and killed by another student before his own death in a tragic event that also injured three others.
Saugus students and staff were evacuated to Central Park, which became designated as the Incident Command Post, where hundreds of children were sent for protection and to reunite with their loved ones.
Three days after the tragedy, well over 15,000 people gathered at Central Park for a vigil in honor of the victims, the largest gathering in the history of the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the City of Santa Clarita at the time. Thousands more viewers attended online via live stream.
Photo by Andrew Menjivar/KHTS Radio.
“This event honored the memories of Dominic and Gracie, and all those afflicted by this tragedy. This occasion’s impact cannot be overstated; even today, this park serves as a symbol of unity, community, and remembrance,” reads the petition.
For Gracie’s father Bryan Muehlberger, renaming Central Park in honor of his daughter and Dominic is an obvious step towards memorializing the actions of the community that surrounded and supported not only the families of the victims, but the survivors and all others affected by the Saugus High shooting.
“We’ve renamed other parks… Central Park is where everything occurred and represents everything to us, the kids at Saugus were there with their families on the day of, their phones and backpacks still at the school,” Muehlberger said. “The first memorials were built at Central Park, the vigil was at the park.”
See Related: Six Months After Saugus High Shooting Community Remains ‘Saugus Strong’
In the days following the shooting, the Santa Clarita community came together at Central Park to mourn the lives of Gracie and Dominic. Memorials, vigils, and even its proximity to Saugus High school left its mark on the open space and the community that flocked around it.
“There is tragedy day in and day out, in this city, in Los Angeles, and around the world,” Muhlberger said. “These two children lost their lives, but we don’t want (Central Park) to be a memorial of the tragedy, but instead of the impact and the positives that they had on the community.”
Muehlberger noted that although the City has potentially offered one of the 34 other City parks in the community, the families agree that Central Park holds the most significance from the events immediately after the shooting.
“No other park has the same significance, it was that place in our community,” Muehlberger said. “If we had gathered elsewhere for the vigil it would be a different story, but Central Park is where it all happened in the community.”
Gracie Muehlberger, 15, is described as “a vibrant, lively girl who always made others smile.”
Gracie and Dominic are the embodiment of what this community represents- unity, happiness, love, joy, respect, faith and fun, according to Muehlberger.
The teens and their families each had their own special connection to the park. Gracie often played there with her dog and made new friends while her brother Brady practiced soccer. Dominic learned to ride his bike there and discovered his love for football and teamwork.
“It was a space where Gracie and Dominic’s personalities shined, where they spread joy and fostered camaraderie,” reads the petition. “They brought us together in an unprecedented way that should always be remembered by the great city of Santa Clarita.”
Dominic Blackwell, 14, was “a kid with an infectious laugh, a bright smile and a kind heart.”
Muehlberger stated that he planned to speak during the next City Council meeting in order to try and get the name change as a voting item on an agenda for an August 2020 City Council meeting.
“As the youth of Santa Clarita are the future of this great city, the most impactful event of their lives thus far must be given the honor it deserves,” reads the petition. “Our town, like the rest of the world, is struggling with so much adversity. Honoring this request reminds everyone that we are better together, that we will never forget that we are #SaugusStrong #GracieStrong #DominicStrong #UnityOfCommunity.”
To sign the petition, visit dedicatecentralpark.com.
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With all due respect to the two deceased teens I’m against renaming the park for them. This is what cancel culture has brought us to, any tragedy of mis-doing and we have to change names to honor them? Let things be as they are and just remember them in your own memories instead of Hs I g us, residents, be reminded of this tragedy.
I agree Central Park should remain Central Park as it is today. Our entire community has suffered multiple horrific events over the years, as youth & parents continue to try to deal with life issues.
We all need to come together and work forward to make our community a healthy and prosperous city.
Agree. Blessings to the families, but it’s too specific and frankly a sad reminder. Perhaps including them in the other memorials within the park is more appropriate. Central Park needs to remain as it is.
Count me in as well to keep the name Central Park! Jared is right, and his points are spot-on!
In central park in the back there is a memorial of all the Santa Clarita kids under 18 who have died from vehicle deaths. I support something similar to bring awareness to the issue these parents want to bring light to.. but I dont support changing the entire park’s name after kids who were murdered senselessly. Sorry to say, but we go to parks to get away from the world. Not to be reminded about how vile and evil it is.i hope the parents can find peace someday..
I’m in complete agreement with the two previous comments… We simply cannot rename something every time there is a tragedy.. and going forward, how is this fair to anyone else’s family that experiences a tragic loss? I played coed softball for many years at Central Park and have very fond memories, my kids played on the playground there.. I don’t want Central Park to become a sad memory.. please just add a new memorial in their honor.. No one is EVER going to forget what happened to those beautiful children and all who were directly impacted…
Totally against renaming the park. Where do I sign an anti petition. Yea I feel sorry for the parents, but a memorial plaque at the school would more than suffice. This is one of those BS heart string plays, if you dont sign the petition, you are an evil person. Blah blah blah. Is it ego? Is it the mentality of my child is sooo special that they better get a trophy? I dunno, but holy crap where do they get the gall to attempt this? They are betting that they won’t get any resistance and everyone will just go with the idea and support them. Renaming a park is balonie, but renaming a cities central park is mega thick balonie. If we are gonna rename it, how about we pick someone who was an outstanding citizen of our city, a lifetime contributor to the betterment of the SCV. But I digress, Central Park is a perfect title as it is now.
I dont feel that changing a name of anything solves any issues other than for the direct families and friends. We will never forget what happened in our community and how we all came together for those that past as well as those who suffered with what they had all gone through that day. How about a Saugus Strong Memorial or Santa Clarita Strong Memorial covers all kids, all schools that have/had deaths of tragedy like suicide due to bulling. A separate memorial area like this in the park would be more suitable.
Central Park should stay as is. Many parents in the SCV have suffered and have gone through untimely deaths of their sons and daughters, and regretfully there will be more
tragedies in life.
To rename Central Park is not good for the community.
I agree pretty much all the above. I feel a Saugus Strong Memorial or Santa Clarita Strong Memorial would be catch all for all kids in our community from all schools or not , including suicides by bulling would be more suitable. These 2 kids could be the first to be named.
Central Park is a lot of things to a lot of community members. I would like to see the name stay the same, and possibly build a special memorial to Gracie and Dominic near the Youth Grove. Perhaps an individual cenotaph memorializing each of them. This way when we visit our park we have the opportunity to remember all of the beautiful young lives that were lost.
This is a wonderful idea. I agree, the name Central Park should stay the same.
There are other children who have lost their love in in SC. as well .They have a memorial site already there .I say leave it be .Keep it Central
Any memorial built should be put right outside the mental health department office door so that it reminds the people who work there what failures they have been in overcoming the changing dynamic of the youth and how to “treat” them so another tragedy like this will be avoided.
Let’s not join the crowd who want to rename bases, memorials and assorted places.We are Newhall Weak
I agree as well. A small memorial somewhere would be fine. I sympathize with the families of those two teens. But don’t go changing names. The park should stay as is.
I agree with those who commented. A special memorial at the Youth Grove would be much more meaningful. In this way, visitors can remember all of the other youth we lost, too. A very sad reminder but at the same time honoring these kids who have a place in our hearts. The Youth Grove seems to be a site of respect, whereas, a park sign and dedication seem too generl.
The Santa Clarita Valley has tragically lost many young teens to horrid events. 114 names are currently honored in the youth grove lost to reckless driving. A memorial like this should also be placed in the park to honor the victims of the shooting. I don’t think changing the sign to memorialize just two victims lost to a horrendous event when so many have also been taken is ok. This is being discussed in the City Council Meeting being held this coming Tuesday at 6pm.
I emphathize with the families for their loss, but feel this is a misguided effort by the families for a number of reasons, and this petition should not be acted on even if they get sufficient signatures to submit it to City Council. I agree with all the reasons already stated above why the park should NOT be renamed. A memorial at the park would be reasonable, or broaden the scope of the existing teenage car accident victims memorial, or perhaps create a similiar memorial near that one at the park for people senselessly killed. Not sure where you draw the line on these kinds of initiatives though. Rest in peace Gracie and Dominic, but also dont forget the other victime in this incident – the other injured students, plus the entire student body, staff, and all the first responders. That would make for a very long name for a park.
With respect to the families, there are other ways to remember their children than to have a whole community rename Central Park after them. Perhaps a bench at the park with their names on it, or a tree planted with plaques to remember them. Or more logically… have their names added to the numerous other local children’s names who have died tragically, that are remembered at our local “memorial or remembrance” sites.
Although this was horrific and tragic, and we do not discount the heart ache these families have gone through, we also do not discount the heart ache that several other families have gone through in our community as well. Many have lost their children in devastating and senseless ways. To specifically set aside two children in our community above any of the others just does not feel right no matter the circumstances, and it seems ill focused for the matter at hand.
I do understand what the parents objectives are. And, I have lost a child, so I know and understand that loss and what this would mean to them. However, I believe there’s a better way to accomplish what they want, and perhaps more.
These two children were part of our community, many of us knew them and loved them, and our children played and grew up with them, so we DO feel for the families. But renaming the park only for their sake seems misguided when you think of all the other children we have lost sadly and senselessly in our community as well. None of our lost children should matter more than another. These parents want to remember their children and honor them, but they have also expressed their gratitude towards our community which pulled together for them and how they’d like that remembered as well.
So what if instead …
We rename it Central Park- Saugus Strong.
Focus on our community, and not JUST two individuals that were lost to us. None of us will ever forget the children lost that day. But what will most of us remember as the years go by?
We will always hear “Saugus Strong” and remember how we were ALL like family at a very sad and dark time. When tragedy hit, we showed up, and we showed each other that we could set aside all of our differences that day and in the many days that followed, and pull together like real family when we needed each other the most. Something all of us will never ever forget.
Everyone will remember a shooting, everyone will remember a boy and a girl who should never have died so young, but none of us here in Santa Clarita will EVER forget how we we came together as one and became Saugus Strong. Whether it was on T-shirts, or bumper stickers, or in ads and signs all over town, we surprised even each other that day with those words. And as surrounding communities, cities and towns rolled those words off their lips, they knew who we were, and what we stand for.
We will never forget who we lost that day, and we will ALWAYS love and remember them. But I think we need to remember more than JUST the tragedy or loss of lives that day. We need to remember who we are, and what we are capable of when we need each other the most.
Central park should always remain a focal point in our community. A place where we always meet when our community wants or needs to pull together. A place where we celebrate good times with music, dance, laughter. Where we congregate as a community during emergencies or tragedies,. Where we come together to play, talk, walk, grow and flourish as individuals, friends, neighbors, and family. And where we learn about our community and spend time with one another. It has always been a central part of our community. (And to be honest it’s probably one of the only parks that most of us know the name of and exactly where it’s located ha ha).
If you were to arrive at the park and see the words “Central Park- Saugus Strong” you would remember MORE than just two lives lost. You would remember many lives becoming one. One family, one community, one people on a day we will always remember. A day that changed who we are forever.
To me this just seems more logical. My apologies if I have offended anyone. We all have opinions and feelings that vary and that’s what makes us individuals.
The worst of this city are always the loudest. The proof is above me and I’m sure will show up below me.
Try to keep some sort of heart about you. When thee kids went through a school shooting here in Awesometown you same people were crying about this tragedy. How fast you forget. Disgusting.
I also disagree do not “rename” Central Park. A suggestion for families effected and the teens that lost their lives, is a Healing Garden just for these individuals. My daughter lost her boyfriend Cody Cofffman at the Borderline Thousand Oaks shooting and the city of Thousand Oaks dedicated a Healing Garden in their honor. I invite you to go and see it. It is just beautiful and serene and offered closure for our family. Many people go and just relax with a rose garden, boulders with their names, water fountain with 12 shooting waterfalls and open space. All things over there are in bundles of 12 for each victim. Santa Clarita should find an open space and make one dedicated to the victims of the Saugus High School shooting. I really hope that this could materialize. And in closing I’m sorry for your loss and all the students at Saugus High.
I don’t care if the park is renamed or not. That being said though, WE WILL NEVER FORGET! I hope the parents find some peace and can still remember and celebrate their children in other ways.