Station Fire Memorial Park
Station Fire Memorial Park in December 2018
LocationWest Warwick, Rhode Island, United States
Coordinates41°41′03.5″N 71°30′39″W / 41.684306°N 71.51083°W / 41.684306; -71.51083
EstablishedFebruary 17, 2013 (2013-02-17)[1]
Station Fire Memorial Park in December 2018

Station Fire Memorial Park is a park located in the state of Rhode Island. It was created and dedicated following The Station nightclub fire that occurred on February 20, 2003, resulting in 100 deaths and 230 injuries, and is located on the same property where the fire took place. It was officially dedicated and opened to the public on May 21, 2017.[2]

History

The park was created in memory of the victims affected by a nightclub fire that occurred on Thursday, February 20, 2003 in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the evening's headlining band Great White, which ignited plastic foam used as sound insulation in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. As of May 2017, it is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in US history. It resulted in 100 deaths and 230 injuries.[2] Many of the survivors developed posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of psychological trauma.[3]

Following the investigation of the event, the site of the fire was cleared of all materials, structures, and debris, and a multitude of crosses were placed as memorials, left by loved ones of the deceased. On May 20, 2003, nondenominational services began to be held at the site of the fire for a number of months. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20.[4] In June 2003, the Station Fire Memorial Foundation (SFMF) was formed with the purpose of purchasing the property in order to build and maintain a memorial for the victims of the event.[5] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the property of the site to the SFMF.[6] By April 2016, $1.65 million of the $2 million fundraising goal had been achieved and construction of the memorial had commenced.[7][8] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017.[9]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Station Fire Memorial Park.
  1. ↑ Krause, Nancy (May 19, 2017). "Timeline: A look at how the Station Fire Memorial became reality". WPRI. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Memorial Park Opens at Site of Rhode Island Nightclub Fire That Killed 100". NBC News. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Station fire took emotional toll on survivors, study finds". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ Laguarda, Ignacio (2015-03-22). "Station Nightclub Fire Memorial On Track For 2016 Opening". Hartford Courant. Associated Press. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  5. ↑ "Our Mission". The Station Fire Memorial Foundation. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  6. ↑ Smith, Michelle R. (2012-12-28). "Owner of burned RI club donates land for memorial". AP. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  7. ↑ Beacon staff writers (2016-04-05). "Job Lot customers respond to Station Fire Memorial drive". Warwick Beacon. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  8. ↑ "SFM Park". The Station Fire Memorial Foundation. Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  9. ↑ Towne, Shaun (2017-05-21). "Memorial park dedicated to victims of Station Nightclub Fire". WPRI.
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