Dallas, TX United States |
Lee Park, near entrance Turtle Creek Blvd. & Lemmon Ave. | Allan Ross AIDS Memorial |
since 16 March 1992 without names |
When Alan Ross stood amidst the 1,800 daffodils in spring of 1990, he felt the power of remembrance for each of the 1,800 aids victims counted in Dallas so far. The year before, as Executive Director of the Dallas Tavern Guild — an association of gay bars — he submitted an application for an AIDS Memorial to the Board of Lee Park. But the road to success was far from smooth. After three years of negotiations, there was no brick walkway with names of those who dies from AIDS but trees, bushes and flowers were planted and a plaque was dedicated on March 16, 1992 near the bridge that leads to Arlington Hall. “This living tribute and surrounding beautification project is a gift to Lee Park and the City of Dallas in recognition of the AIDS community of Dallas County”, the plaque reads.
After Ross died from AIDS complications on March 16, 1995 and the Dallas Tavern Guild had joined forces with the Dallas Southern Memorial Association, the Turtle Creek Association and two other neighborhood groups to create the Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservancy to operate the park, an evergreen tree was planted in his memory.
After the evergreen had died earlier, the original location became part of a new formal garden at the beginning of 2013 and the plaque was moved. The new location of the AIDS Memorial, chosen by current Tavern Guild Executive Director Michael Doughman, is along a walk that extends from a new formal entrance to the park at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Lemmon Avenue. A new cedar elm is placed among older trees and new plantings of azaleas and smaller bushes and flowers. The Alan Ross AIDS Memorial in Lee Park was rededicated on June 22, 2013. Photo © Patrick Hoffman
Dallas Tavern Guild
After Ross died from AIDS complications on March 16, 1995 and the Dallas Tavern Guild had joined forces with the Dallas Southern Memorial Association, the Turtle Creek Association and two other neighborhood groups to create the Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservancy to operate the park, an evergreen tree was planted in his memory.
After the evergreen had died earlier, the original location became part of a new formal garden at the beginning of 2013 and the plaque was moved. The new location of the AIDS Memorial, chosen by current Tavern Guild Executive Director Michael Doughman, is along a walk that extends from a new formal entrance to the park at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Lemmon Avenue. A new cedar elm is placed among older trees and new plantings of azaleas and smaller bushes and flowers. The Alan Ross AIDS Memorial in Lee Park was rededicated on June 22, 2013. Photo © Patrick Hoffman
Dallas Tavern Guild