On the eve of the five-year anniversary of the shootings at Trolley Square, the shopping center near downtown Salt Lake City has announced it will add a memorial pool.
However, Trolley general manager Dawn Katter said the circular pool that will be added near the mall’s north entrance isn’t an actual memorial for the five who died and four who were injured when 18-year-old Sulejman Talovic went on a rampage Feb. 12, 2007.
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Trolley Square reflection pool
O Go to http://bit.ly/AwCV5dfor more information about the pool and a rendering of what it will look like.
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"We were trying to create something that would be enjoyable for the entire community," said Katter. "The entire community was affected by [the shootings]."
She said the center is working on renderings and plans to complete the pool by mid-summer.
In the announcement Thursday, Trolley made no actual mention of the shootings and victims, and Katter said there will be no plaque or wording on the fountain, which will have a black granite surface.
Stephen Hinckley, whose 15-year-old daughter, Kirsten, died in the shooting at Trolley, said on one hand he understands the absence of a plaque and why the pool isn’t being called a memorial. "From a business standpoint, I can see what they are trying to do," he said. "They are trying to take the emphasis off of what happened."
But on the other hand, he feels something is missing. "Even if it’s not a plaque that would draw attention to what happened, some type of acknowledgement would be nice," he said, noting that a plant or tree for each of the victims would have been appropriate.
He said he bears no hard feelings for the shopping center, which he considers a victim of that day, as well.
"I wish Trolley Square the absolute best. I don’t want it to be remembered for anything else other than it’s a great place. I want them to succeed."
Trolley owner ScanlanKemperBard, or SKB, purchased the mall in 2006. It owned the property for just six months when the shootings occurred.
After the shootings, SKB proceeded with its plans for a $60 million renovation and expansion of the shopping center, on the outskirts of downtown bounded by 500 and 600 South and 600 East and 700 East. The pool is one of the last additions to the property.
SKB said the purpose of the reflecting pool is "to create a place of peace and reflection for the community that has supported Trolley Square through its evolution over the past few years."
"We want to create a calm space for the community to stop and visit," Jay Fetherston, executive vice president of SKB, said in a statement. "To give people an opportunity to sit and reflect or gather with friends and relax."
Vickie Walker, whose husband, Jeff, was killed and whose then-16-year-old son, A.J., was wounded and left with long-term brain injuries, said she can accept Trolley’s decision.
"If they would have put up a plaque [with names of the victims] that would have been great," Walker said. "But I certainly undertstand from a retail standpoint that they don’t want to draw additional attention to the tragedy. I respect their decision. I’m grateful they are doing something."
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