Youth Commission to Dedicate Memorial Garden

City of Casa Grande - City of Casa Grande News June 13, 2013

The Casa Grande Youth Commission will have a dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Garden of Sunshine Youth Memorial at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21. The memorial garden is located around the Palm Island Family Aquatics Park, 1115 N. Brown Avenue. The event is free and open to the community.

The Garden of Sunshine Youth Memorial is dedicated to members of the Casa Grande community who have died as children or teenagers. The name was chosen after a young man, Zack “Sunshine” Eide, along with his sister Katie, were killed in a tragic crash during a massive dust storm in 2009. The youth commission has worked to raise funds the last couple of years to make this garden reflective of personal memories as well as a celebration of life. Many community members have stepped up to help with the project by volunteering and/or donating building materials.

Phase I of the project includes the completion of pathways, gravel, basic landscaping and memorial wall. The wrought iron memorial wall includes 12” metal sun rays that display the name of the person along with their date of birth and the date they passed away. Seventeen young people who have passed will be honored at the ceremony.

Project coordinator and former youth commission adviser Donna McBride says, "We have people in Casa Grande who have lost their sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren and a lot of these families don't have a place to go to remember them besides their grave site. This memorial garden offers them another place to visit their loved ones who have passed away in a pleasant setting to remember them the way they were."

The Garden of Sunshine Youth Memorial is located around the Palm Island Family Aquatics Park adjacent to Carr McNatt Park, which is a common area for youth activity. "This is really a hub for young people, so when people come to the garden they will hear laughter and kids playing and having a good time - and that's the way they want to remember their kids," says McBride.

The memorial wall is open to any family who has lost a child between the ages of 0-18 years who has a Casa Grande connection. To have your child’s name on the wall, contact Donna McBride atdonnamcbrideaz@aol.com. There is no fee to participate.

“Having this project all come together feels great,” says Casa Grande Youth Commission President Zoe Cooper. "We are so grateful for the community that has come together and really made this happen."

The next phase of the project is to place an art sculpture at the garden. The Youth Commission is currently seeking artists interested in designing, constructing, and installing an outdoor sculpture for the Garden of Sunshine Youth Memorial Garden. For more information about this project, click here or call the City Clerk's Office at (520) 421-8608.

The Casa Grande Youth Commission is a group of teens appointed by the mayor who represent the interests of Casa Grande's youth. The Commission is involved with leadership and community service for the city.