Volunteers describe surge of activity, fundraisers and remembrance events at Healing Garden

Volunteers for the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden described to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Oct. 7 the garden's recent volunteer activity, fundraising and October remembrance events.

Alicia Murkey, a volunteer, said the garden hosts many groups that help maintain and repair the site, including youth groups, university classes and long‑standing volunteers who perform tasks such as repainting, mulch spreading, trellis and tile cleaning, water-feature maintenance and general repairs. Murkey said 158 volunteers contributed many hours over the recent period and described multiple group visits, including 35 children plus eight adults, an American Heritage Girls troupe, a 70-person LDS youth volunteer group, and 15 UNLV students from a class that had not previously visited the garden.

Murkey said the garden staged fundraising tile-painting events, including an activity tied to Oct. 1 that raised $884.54 for the mayor's fund; volunteers said they need about 600 tiles to complete a storytelling wall. She described the garden's October activities, noting a lunch for families of the 58 victims of the Oct. 1 2017 mass shooting and an evening candle-lighting remembrance ceremony. Murkey thanked the city for ongoing support and said the Healing Garden serves Route 91 survivors, family members and the broader public seeking a place of reflection and healing.

Commissioners praised the volunteer work and noted commissioner participation in the garden's activities. The presentation was given during the public comment portion of the meeting; the commission took no formal action.