LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Community Healing Garden, in Downtown Las Vegas, has become a gathering spot for people to reflect on the October 1 tragedy.
The garden was filled with Vegas locals and out-of-state visitors on Tuesday, which marked seven years since the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
The garden was designed to be a place for community healing, landscape architect Jay Pleggenkuhle said, who created the Healing Garden,
“I just really felt the need to create a space where we could all come together and talk, share stories, hug, cry, light candles, hang pictures,” Pleggenkuhle says.
One woman visiting from California, who was there the night of the Route 91 festival, said she makes the trip to Vegas every year on October 1.
She said she always spends a few hours in the Healing Garden because it makes her feel at peace, and she’s built an incredible community along the way.
“They know what we’re going through, when I talk about this with any other person they don’t get it,” Michele Woods said. “I can just come here, and everyone feels the same, and relates the same.”
Las Vegas local Ashley Barkin said she visits the garden throughout the year when she needs some healing, and she wants others to know they’re welcome to do the same.
“There are still a lot of people that are afraid to come here because they don’t want to feel their emotions,” Barkin said. “This is the place to be vulnerable, this is the place to say what’s on your mind, and feel what you need to feel, and heal how you need to heal.”
One of the Healing Garden volunteers said, between Friday and Tuesday afternoon, nearly 2,000 people had already visited the garden.
More are expected Tuesday evening for an Evening Remembrance Ceremony which starts around 9 p.m..
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