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Organizers of Hope Remembrance Park urge council to keep Sargent Park site, say redesign and donor impacts caused distress
Summary
Members of Light After Loss told the Hibbing City Council they had raised more than $30,000 for a memorial at Sargent Park and said they were blindsided by the city's reconsideration of the site; councilors asked the group to engage surrounding neighbors and scheduled a working-session follow-up.
Organizers of Light After Loss — a nonprofit that supports bereaved parents and families — urged the Hibbing City Council on Jan. 7 to keep their planned Hope Remembrance Park at Sargent Park and raised concerns about communication and donor impact after the city reconsidered the site.
Founder Nina Plasche told the council the group has raised more than $30,000, received a $14,000 tourism grant, and has invoices totaling $8,772.50 for a professional survey and partial construction documents. Plasche said the group was informed that city leaders had discussed changing the site during a closed working session and that the organization received no formal notice by letter, email or phone.
"We never received a formal letter, email, or even a phone call from city council about this decision. It was made during a closed working session without any contact to our organization," Plasche said.
Stephanie Bessel, a volunteer from Hibbing, described alternative sites the city had suggested (Frank Hibbing Park, Lebannon Park, a cemetery) and explained why each posed problems for the group, including historic designation, title issues and unsuitability for the memorial’s purpose. Organizers said they had spent volunteer hours on fundraising, engaged a designer (WITSETH) and had paid or committed funds for parts of the design process.
Council response and next steps: Mayor Pete Hajduk and councilors acknowledged the group’s work and apologized for communication gaps. Council members asked the group to present a visual of the redesign to nearby residents and to meet one-on-one with the homeowner who had raised objections; the city offered staff assistance to provide suggested survey questions for neighborhood outreach. The mayor said the item would return to a working session before the Jan. 21 council meeting so the council could have more information to form a vote or direction.
Why it matters: The decision affects a community‑facing memorial project and donor commitments. Organizers warned that moving the site now could require re‑contacting donors and risk private fundraising and project timelines.
What was requested: The group requested (1) that Sargent Park remain the site, (2) clarification on who would be responsible for any duplicated expenses if redesigns or relocations are required, and (3) clear next steps and timelines from the city. The council asked the group to return with neighbor outreach results and a visual representation for further consideration.
