Ruskin Heights Tornado Memorial

Ruskin Heights Tornado Memorial Renovation Planned

Monument Renovation Designs

The Ruskin Heights Homes Association is working with United Sign Company in renovating the current monument. Mr. Marion Pickett, a 1957 Ruskin Heights' resident who remembers that fateful night is in charge of the design change.

It has been decided to make the current monument a two-sided monument. As seen above the front will now have Tornado Memorial added in 8 inch letters. All the monument letters will be new to maintain uniformity.

The East or back side of the monument will now say RUSKIN HEIGHTS MEMORIAL TREE ARBOR, MAY 20, 1957 TORNADO FATALITIES as seen in the picture here. Below the title will be three plaques to remember the fatalities and the path of the tornado.

The first plaque will be a cast aluminum plate set on the lower left side. The location of the cities and the names of those fatalities will be listed as shown here.

The Center Plaque will be an acid etched steel plate. This plaque will have Caught In The Path of the tornado similar to the illustration in Carolyn Glenn Brewer book. On the plaque are noted and some facts of the tornado. See the picture below right of the path of the tornado.

The Right Plaque will also be a cast aluminum plate. It will show the cities and the names of the people who lost their lives that night.

The fourteen remaining trees that were in the median have now been removed by the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department. The stumps have been chipped and the ground will be prepared for planting this spring.

Thank you to the Kansas City Parks & Recreation Department!

The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department have given us the approval to have 34 trees planted in the median. Our goal is to plant one tree for every fatality. The five other trees will be planted and marked to denote an extension of the Ruskin Heights Memorial Tree Arbor. Two will be planted on either side of the Ruskin High School sign. Three will be planted diagonally on the southwest corner of Burke Elementary school. Stay tuned for further updates.

The memorial has had the four front plaques removed for cleaning. United Sign Company has reported that the process has revealed a beautiful plaques. The new plaques for the Memorial Tree Arbor on the back of the monument are being made. This is an exciting time of transition as the memorial currently has the letters "RUSKIN HEIGHTS" on the front and no trees on the median. United Sign Company has said that the work will be completed by the end of February. Watch for changes. Check out the UPGRADE PHOTOS page for a sneak peak of the new Front Facade of the Ruskin Heights Tornado Memorial.

See Nick Dutcher's video "Remember Ruskin"

days until the Tornado Memorial Rededication.

Last updated on June 11, 2007