‘People still care’: DuPage County dedicates new park to victims of violence

Evelia Krzysik came from Bensenville on Tuesday with two of her children and her sister to see the new memorial park on the west side of the DuPage County campus in Wheaton.

One of her children was not there. About six and a half years ago, Krzysik said, her son, Hunter, was accidentally shot and killed with an unsecured gun at a friend’s house.

He was five days from celebrating his 14th birthday, six days from starting his freshman year at Fenton High School.

That’s why Evelia Krzysik was at the new Victims of Violence Memorial Park, a space for remembrance and reflection bordering the western campus pond near the Jeanine Nicarico Children’s Advocacy Center, 422 N. County Farm Road.

“Any time things like this are done, memorials, it just shows that people still care, that people are remembering what happened, so that it’s on our minds,” Krzysik said.

“We always have to be responsible, and we always have to make sure that we are aware of gun safety and that we are taking part in it,” she said.

Led by DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, board members and county officials gathered to cut the ribbon and dedicate the park.

The small park includes a 20-by-15-foot brick patio within poured concrete, with benches offering a view of the pond where a pair of white swans skimmed its surface.

“It’s a beautiful location,” said Conroy, who credited board member Yeena Yoo for its inspiration and board member Michael Childress for the idea of a memorial park.

“It breaks your heart as you’re fighting against gun violence to try to find a way to really show our support,” Conroy said. “And I think this is a tangible place for people to come and hopefully they feel that warm, wraparound support that the county has for them for their loss.”

Using $35,000 in budgeted funds for county facilities management, the park includes a walking path, an important facet to Yoo.

“We wanted something like an infinity path, because the infinity symbol is something that gun violence survivors in particular, it speaks to them,” said Yoo, noting in her address the approximately 130 Americans shot and killed daily.

“So we had asked for some kind of walking trail, some connection to nature so that people could really be able to reflect and walk and remember their loved ones,” she said.

An attorney who advocates for victims of domestic violence, Yoo has been involved with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in Elmhurst.

Another member of the group, Katie Harris, attended the dedication.

“I used to work down the street at a law firm, and this is just such a nice piece of property,” said Harris, who lives in Elmhurst. “It has a beautiful lake, easily accessible to people in the community.”

Childress, who serves as chairman of the county board's public works committee, said the newly created space will be “all green and filled in” in a year. People may also purchase commemorative brick pavers, benches or trees to honor loved ones lost due to violence.

His own feelings tender due to the recent loss of a brother, Childress said the board had “total buy-in” around the idea of a memorial park.

“What was important was to have the commitment of the entire county board to come out. It’s not about spending a lot of money, because they didn’t. For the amount of money they spent, it’s such a beautiful place,” Childress said.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said the decision to build the park reaffirms the county’s commitment to public safety.

“It’s the number one role of government, and this county takes it very seriously,” Berlin said. “This is just a testament to that.”

After Tuesday’s ceremony and after most people had left the site, Evelia Krzysik, her two children, and her sister remained a little longer. She says she plans to return.

“My kids love the park,” she said. “So absolutely, I think we’ll come here, and it’ll be another nice way to think about Hunter.”