Mentioned as an obscure, upright granite block, the memorial that defines Challenger Memorial Park is engraved with a picture of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the names of its seven crew members who perished on its fateful mission in 1986. Located in Montpelier, Vermont, the monument and park are distinct but could serve as an attraction in a much more powerful manner.
Dedicated a few months after the Challenger disaster by Danny Roselli, the monument itself was designed to honor the astronauts. As the son of the president of a local granite company, Roselli knew how to create something that would honor those astronauts while also cultivating a new section of the city for engagement.
As an illustration of how the monument resonated with the surrounding community, for many years, people would place an apple on the stones that seemingly had a connection to Christa McAuliffe, who was a school teacher that taught in New Hampshire and perished aboard the Challenger. The event and monument had a notable impact on the city and community, but that impact has been limited due to the approach that has been taken by stakeholders.
Located at the intersection of National Life Drive and Memorial Drive, visiting the monument is difficult due to the limited parking. The land itself is located on the property of National Life Group, but the organization has show little interest in developing the potential that it represents to cultivate interest and activity in the area.
Surrounded by a small, wet ditch, there is no defined area for audiences to gather or connect. The wide open green space could enable numerous activities, but the logistics associated with getting together in the park preclude many of them from taking place.
Like other areas that already have established monuments, the most difficult aspect of creating engagement has already been taken care of at Challenger Memorial Park. The Challenger memorial provides what would otherwise be an empty green space with a defined identity. Fulfilling on the potential that it represents is a matter of enabling engagement that can be compelling to both residents and visitors.
