Whatever became of the Worcester Fire Fighters Memorial Park 5-1438?

John S writes:

Whatever became of the Worcester Fire Fighters Memorial Park 5-1438? http://www.fallen-heroes.org/Memorial/ Has any work been done since the winning design was chosen? When was the last time you heard anything about it? Is there a Worcester city park with the name Worcester Fire Fighters Memorial Park 5-1438? Why doesn't the park, even without a simple memorial plaque, exist? http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/dpw/parks_rec/city_parks/home.htm What branch of the city of Worcester government is responsible for creating city parks? The Parks and Rec department? The city counsel? The DPW? Why hasn't this public entity in WORCESTER made an effort to remember the WORCESTER firefighters who gave their lives to the city of WORCESTER?

From the Worcester Fire Fighters Memorial Park web site
The Worcester Fire Fighters Memorial Committee was created in the aftermath of the tragic fire that claimed the lives of the six Worcester firefighters in December 1999....This project will help revitalize (economically and environmentally) the city of Worcester...
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In 2002, the committee selected a site for the memorial and the memorial park. The site will be named Worcester Fire Fighters Memorial Park
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In the spring of 2004, the committee began a two-stage, national, open competition to produce a design for the memorial.
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In September 2004, the jury chose the winning design...

The last entry in web site progress page is 2005 http://www.fallen-heroes.org/Memorial/progress.html
Like so many potentially good things in Worcester there was lots of energy when this project was in its infancy but, like too many potentially good things in Worcester, it has stalled. Will it ever be brought back to life?

When the Worcester Public Access television station airs its production "Surrounded By Love" a tribute to the fallen fighters, it would be great if an announcement could be made with an update that the Worcester city government has taken action to remember these six Worcester firefighters who gave their lives to the city of Worcester.
The broadcast of the special or any update about the memorial won't be possible if the station's funding is reduced or eliminated.

The reduced funding for WCCA would be yet another case of the city of Worcester forgetting about something good for the city of Worcester.

John Simakauskas