Mission Statement and Goals
The ACA Memorial Park Fund was formed by members of the immediate families of those
who were killed on April 3, 2009. The goal of the Fund is to create and maintain
a memorial park in the downtown Binghamton area. We are building a greenspace
with a central monument to honor the people who lost their lives in the April tragedy,
as well as those who survived, and the community that responded.
A plan has been developed to secure property, establish funding, and construct this
memorial park. The Committee at the core of this planning is now in the process
of contacting and organizing civic and private organizations to put this plan into
action.
Accomplishing the Goal
The basic steps of the plan are to finalize the site, establish funding for site
design, broadcast the design to the larger community to generate further support,
complete funding, break ground, complete the construction and finally, maintenance.
Siting – A site exists that is owned by the City of Binghamton.
The southeast corner of the intersection of Clinton and Front Streets has been offered
by the City of Binghamton.
None of the participants in this project, including the City, desire a result that
cannot be maintained at the level of attention that the devastating aspects of the
tragedy demand. Therefore, the ideal site and project plan will allow us to implement
the most important design constraint of a memorial: longevity.
Design – The architectural firm of BCK Architects and Engineers,
PC, http://www.bckpc.com/
has been engaged to prepare the site design. This process involves preparing drawings
and rendering of the design proposed by the families, in order to allow sponsors
to view the completed project, and choose aspects of the design that they would
like to fund. The Raymond Foundation has provided some of the seed money to fund
this design and formally launch the park as a project.
Campaign – The design is now complete and major pledges are
being obtained, and a broader campaign to fund the entire park has begun. Area businesses
and volunteers are able to provide some of the components of the park, but cash
contributions are crucial. This ‘cap money’ will allow the construction
to begin. Items such as engraved paver stones can be sponsored, along with other
decorative features of the park.
Many area employers, retailers, organizations and foundations
have become supporters of the project. The response has been
overwhelmingly positive! Our fundraising efforts are nearly complete!
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Complete Funding – At this stage we have accomplished
our goal of underwriting the costs of the project and can finalize the construction
schedule. Estimated: January 2012. We estimate the cost of the project to be approximately
$200,000.
Bid Project – Construction plans and bid documents for major portions
of the construction will be released. Vendors may donate a portion of their services as a part
of the bid process. Estimated: Late January 2012. For more information, contact the Project Coordinator (info at left).
Ground Breaking – The Committee has completed raising 95% of the estimated project cost and
will break ground on April 3, 2012. Construction is estimated at requiring 2 months,
completing the project by July-August, 2012.
Maintenance – Ongoing maintenance of the park will include
insuring the site, changing plantings in the garden, grounds-keeping and snow clearing.
Some of this important work will be done in partnership with Home Depot of Johnson
City to reduce the burden on the City.
Donations to the Memorial Park Fund after construction is completed will be used exclusively to help
underwrite the maintenance costs of the park.
Site Features:
9-sided (one for each nationality) column sheared off (‘broken column’).
The granite column is extended by a cast glass column which will be
illuminated at night.
13 plaques with the names, nationalities and birthdates of each of the people killed,
arranged in a circle around the column.
13 artisan-created figurative birds in flight, 14 feet above the pavement
and illuminated.
Benches for strollers or people who wish to contemplate the memorial.
Garden to surround the column and stones.
Appropriate lighting for the column/memorial stones, the park/walkways in general.
The final design is intended to include features that evoke a feeling of renewal
combined with a deep respect of the loss that was suffered.
The vision of the families is to create an environment that is respectful, but not
coldly somber.
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