The Vail Memorial Park is an 11 acre site located southwest of
the East Vail Entrance from I-70.
You can get there by parking in the exit lot on Bighorn Rd., cross
the street and walk 1/4 mile west along the hiking path. Just
over the bridge is the entrance to the park.This site was originally
a part of the Katsos Ranch and was purchased as open space by
the Town of Vail in 1977 after years of study by a citizen task
force and approved by the Town Council for use as a memorial park.
A crushed stone pathway system connects the memorial areas to
the exisiting Town of Vail recreation path and existing parking
area on Bighorn Road.No direct vehicle access is available to
the memorial park, however, arrangements can be made in advance
for a golf cart to transport those who need may require assistance
to the park.
The Vail Memorial Park will be opened in phases. The intital
phase, constructed in July 2004, consists of two dry-stacked stone
walls, pre-set stone slabs and groups of boulders for memorials,
a gathering space where small memorial services can be held and
a pathway connecting to the Town of Vail recreation path. A non-profit,
non-sectarian organization, Vail Memorial Park Foundation has
been established to operate the site which will be leased from
the town for 99 years.
In the first phase, at the bottom of the slope, a 100 foot
long dry stacked stone wall will follow the natural contures of
the land. Memorial inscriptions will be directly inscribed on
to the stones. Each stone is anticipated to have enough room for
a name, dates and up to a 30 character message.
Boulders will be placed throughout the site and may be purchased
for inscriptions, and flush set stone slabs will also be available.
Cremation remains can be buried in a bio-degradable container
under these slabs or at the foot of the boulders or the memorial
wall.
