88th Street street-end park near Collins Avenue, Surfside, Florida
About this story
The approved memorial honors the 98 people killed in the June 24, 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South. The revised scheme replaces an image depicting the collapsed building with hands representing love, family and continuity. Concrete slabs and exposed rebar previously distributed through the park were removed from the design. Thirteen Pillars of Light beginning near Collins Avenue will retain rebar and debris from the building, creating a physical connection to the disaster site. Subsequent reporting indicates that some family members object to the Town’s revisions to the committee-developed design.
Status and timeline
The Surfside Town Commission approved the final revised design on August 6, 2026. The Town announced that construction would begin shortly but has not released a detailed construction or completion schedule. The project was reduced from an approximately $7.5 million concept to an approximately $3.5 million scope, including a $1 million state grant.
Design highlights
Thirteen illuminated memorial pillars incorporating recovered debris; symbolic image of hands; integration of remembrance, landscape and public access; value-engineered removal of potentially distressing rubble elements.
