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West Hollywood, CA United States |
West Hollywood Park, Santa Monica Blvd & San Vincente Blvd | Stories - The AIDS Monument |
since 1 December 2025 unknown |
A monument to be built in honor of HIV/AIDS victims and activists in West Hollywood Park is moving a step closer to becoming a reality through a $500,000 grant from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The donation, announced today, includes $250,000 provided immediately to the Foundation for a National AIDS Monument, which is partnering with the city to create the memorial, and another $250,000 in matching grants that will be available through 2016. With the grant from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the foundation has surpassed $1.2 million in donations. The foundation needs $4.5 million to build the monument.
The AIDS Monument is part of Phase II of the city’s West Hollywood Park Master Plan project, which is transforming the park on San Vicente Boulevard between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
Phase I of the plan, which is complete, included a new library and parking structure, as well as more green space throughout the park. Phase II includes a new aquatics center and recreational facility, as well as a dog park and the AIDS Monument.
The monument will memorialize the HIV/AIDS crisis and the individuals who have passed away, as well as those who have been at the forefront of combating the disease. It is being designed by Daniel Tobin, of Urban Art Projects, and will include an interactive digital component by which visitors and residents can upload videos, photographs and messages about lost loved ones. One of the goals is to provide a monument that informs people about the current state of the HIV/AIDS crisis, as well as resources, prevention and treatment. The monument will be located on San Vicente Boulevard, just north of the West Hollywood Library.
The design of the AIDS Monument is still being conceptualized. Preliminary plans call for it to be comprised of a series of pillars.
“As Tobin’s design for the monument continues to evolve, the traces (pillars) represent the three pillars of the monuments — memorialize, honor and inform — and will stand in three unique fields at the physical site,” said Jason Kennedy, a board member for the Foundation for a National AIDS Monument.
The West Hollywood City Council on Monday received an update on Phase II of the park master plan, and the project is progressing as planned, said Francisco Contreras, innovation and strategic initiatives manager.
Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2016, with completion by spring 2018. The project is anticipated to cost approximately $90.5 million, which the city has already budgeted.
Photo (c) Beverly Press
17 May 2015
Edwin Folven, West Hollywood
