For Residents
For Businesses
About Our City
Local Government
Download the FREE Flash Player.

This sure would look cool if you had the FREE Flash Player.

A Place to Rest, Reflect and Recall

A child's death violates all that we expect from life's natural course of events. We assume that children outlive their parents and when this unthinkable tragedy occurs, it is hard to imagine that anything can make a family whole again.

With the possible exception of a garden...gardens are inspirational, healing, restoring and beautiful. Gardens are sites where memories can grow freely, much like its greenery and plants.

A Children's Memorial Garden will soon flourish along the Intracoastal Waterway, situated north across the walking bridge, along the beautiful new trail at the City's St. Joe Walkway and the future Palm Coast Waterfront Park. The venue will be dedicated to all residents and especially to those whose children have passed on. It was created to especially encourage families to accept and remember our precious children as they continue with the process of healing.

The idea was introduced to the City Council and staff by several residents who have lost children and it germinated into a tender tribute that will open this summer. Elements of the Children's Memorial Garden will include several 8-foot benches, bronze plaques and engraved granite, as well as native plants and trees along a natural shell pathway. Distinctive bluestone pavers will mark the walkway through the garden, many marked with dedications written by families wishing to honor the memory of a child. Funding for this project is enlisted entirely from private donations.

The Garden is designed to be a comfortable, peaceful sanctuary for people to contemplate, a public site that will not focus on religion, ethnicity, age or circumstance of death. Nestled in the shade of old oak hammocks, in view of passing boats on the waterway, it will instead soften the sadness of visitors who need a special place to rest, reflect and recall special memories.

"This garden celebrates love and the innocence of children," says Bill Butler, City of Palm Coast Landscape Architect. "Its beauty and tranquility helps one to relax and restore their inner peace."

For more information on how to dedicate a memorial to a child, please click here to view this document.

If you have any further questions, please contact Palm Coast Parks and Recreation Department at (386) 986-2323.