Officials Greenlight $1M Grant for Las Vegas Shooting Memorial

On October 1, 2017, a deadly shooting occurred on the Las Vegas Strip during the Route 91 Harvest Festival. The unprecedented criminal act was completed by Stephen Paddock, the man who opened fire into the crowd attending the popular music festival.

Paddock opened fire from his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Before taking his own life, the mass murderer shot and killed 60 people. More than 400 were wounded by Paddock while the total number of injured was approximately 867 people.

In memory of the victims of the tragic event, Clark County sought to develop a memorial near the site of the shooting. On Tuesday this week, the Clark County Commission greenlighted the allocation of a $1 million grant for the Las Vegas Strong Fund which will help with the design and administrative services related to the development of the 1 October Memorial project, a memorial that honors everyone who lost their lives during the deadly shooting from 2017.

The concept for the “Forever One Memorial” was created by JCJ Architecture. Back in September last year, the concept was approved by the Clark County Commission. Now, the newly approved grant will help convert the concept into a real design.

The Forever One Memorial design will feature 58 vertical candles that honor the immediate victims of the shooting. A community plaza, as well as a tower of light, are also a part of the project. The site for the Forever One Memorial is off Reno Avenue and Giles Street. The memorial is expected to use two acres of land.

The Forever One Memorial Will Honor All Victims of the Deadly Shooting

Jan Jones-Blackhurst, the Vegas Strong Fund’s chair of the board of directors, revealed that a primary objective of the fund was to support the people affected by the tragedy from October 1, 2017.

“From raising funds to support the Las Vegas Victim’s Fund, establishing a scholarship program for the children of those impacted, and making grants to support gatherings for survivors and victims’ families to connect and remember, we are now honored to embark on the next chapter of this collective healing journey with the creation of a permanent memorial,” she added. Finally, Jones-Blackhurst thanked the Commission for their trust and efforts.

Jim Gibson, Clark County’s commissioner, said that the approved grant reaffirms the County’s dedication to building the memorial that honors the victims of the deadly shooting. He outlined that the concept for the memorial is beautiful, and the project enters a critical phase.

Finally, Gibson pointed out that the Forever One Memorial will “serve as a lasting tribute to those whose lives were lost and for all whose lives have been forever changed as a result of the events of that evening.”