Parkland 17 Memorial | Parkland, FL 17 Limestone Obelisks, 17 Mature Royal Palms, Integral Color Concrete, Powder Coated Steel, LED Lighting | 76' 11" DIA.
Gordon Huether is honored to be selected for the Parkland 17 Memorial, a project of the Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Florida not-for-profit corporation. The official public Memorial will honor the 17 victims who were taken from their families and the community too soon in the February 14, 2018 Parkland school massacre.
Gordon’s design aims to fulfill the Foundation’s mission by creating a memorial space that honors each of the victims and celebrates their lives. Crafted with compassion and empathy, this work establishes a dedicated communal space that is sensitive in purpose, providing solace for collective mourning and reflection. Responsive to the site and natural environment, the project harmonizes with its surroundings, fostering a sense of peace and tranquility. Moreover, the Memorial’s design ensures accessibility for all, promoting inclusivity and inviting visitors to gather, mourn, and engage in a collective healing journey.
“We are deeply humbled and honored to have been selected to create the memorial for the victims of the Parkland school shooting. We believe this memorial will be a place where friends, families and the community can come together to honor and remember those lives taken in this senseless tragedy.”
~ Gordon Huether
Gordon drew inspiration from the natural beauty of the site – a quiet, serene 150-acre preserve that borders Coral Springs and Parkland to unite the two affected communities. The design integrates native Florida limestone with the majesty of 17 royal palms standing tall and reaching toward the heavens.
The Memorial is circular in nature, composed of concentric circles radiating out from a central fountain with seating for quiet reflection. Surrounding the fountain are 17 limestone obelisks – a tribute to each victim. Each form will bear a victim’s name and will include a plaque with a narrative tribute to the life lost, developed in collaboration with their families. A small, projected shelf will be attached to each obelisk – a place for visitors to leave mementos to honor their loved ones.
Encircling the obelisks are the words of the poem “But for a Small Moment” engraved into the plaza’s surface, encouraging visitors to walk the words as they quietly contemplate the lives tragically cut short six years ago. The palm trees stand tall on the outer edge of the Memorial – symbols of resilience, peace and tranquility.
The final circles of the Memorial are an outer seating wall where visitors can sit during gatherings and memorials, facing inward and allowing for a view of each obelisk. Each of these elements has been selected with the intent of fostering a sacred space to aid in the community’s collective healing process.
The design includes a sunshade structure made of resilient, powder-coated metal, to protect visitors from the frequently harsh South Florida sun and shield the obelisks and the mementos placed on the shelves. The design has four entry points, and is 100% ADA compliant, allowing access for all, regardless of disability or mobility.
May it be a place where all are welcome – a place where compassion and empathy can grow, and a lasting tribute to 17 lives that were taken, but never forgotten.
(2/05/2025) Parkland school shooting memorial design selected | Miami Herald
(2/04/2025) Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation Unveils Design for Public Memorial
(2/04/2025) Design unveiled for future Parkland memorial. See the renderings – NBC 6 South Florida
(2/04/2025) Final Design Chosen for Parkland Memorial
(8/02/2024) Parkland 17 Memorial Seeks Public Input for Final Design – S. Florida Business & Wealth
(7/11 /2024) Parkland 17 foundation picks 3 finalists for memorial, asks public to weigh in
(2/08 /2024) Parkland foundation announces 6 finalists to design public memorial for victims
You can donate to this non-profit organization here: https://parkland17.org/donate/
But for a Small Moment, by Anonymous
Written for Alaina Petty and dedicated to each of the 17 families
Time, moments, milestones,
Togetherness.
Darkest clouds of trouble, a peace destroyed.
Suddenly, senselessly,
Publicly.
Yet night briefly yields, and rays
of love uncommon shine.
Broken hearts together,
United.
Not to supplant, but to illuminate
a journey blessed by grace.
Deeply etched, always
Remembered.
Our truest promise, vitally renewed in her:
To live and love and strive.
Until joyfully reunited, a family
Forever.
